URC Daily Devotion Saturday 17 May 2025

Jesus said: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.  Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
 
Reflection
 
As a librarian many years ago, I recall that care was needed in the choice of sources used to provide reliable answers to enquiries. For general enquiries a good knowledge of standard reference works was required. More specific enquiries were passed on to a relevant subject librarian. Nowadays enquiries are largely seen as the province of internet search engines, and information technology is big business.
 
However, the advice to use reliable sources in enquiry work holds good – even more so in the many, sometimes contradictory sources of information provided for us by the net. Why?  The look and direction of our lives is still shaped by who or what we read, view or listen to, and who we trust.
 
The witness of Scripture is accepted as a key source for Christians. John’s gospel is clear about why he wrote as he did. It is voiced in chapter 20 verse 21 “so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that through believing, you may have life in his name.” 
John’s gospel is a call to discipleship.
 
Whose voice we are hearing in verses 31 to 36 is not certain – most translations do not include the words ‘Jesus said’. Much more importantly, whether they come from John the Baptist, or John the gospel writer, or Jesus, they speak the truth about the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus. Both have valuable urgent messages for their hearers; but the Baptist from earth must give way to the Son of God from heaven.
 
The look and direction of our lives is to be shaped by Jesus and his spirit. He is the one in whom we may confidently place our lives (and deaths) rather than any of the other siren voices we hear.

Prayer
 
Loving God 
we would live our lives
trusting the promises of your Son, 
that you offer us eternal life.
We admit 
we do not find constancy of purpose easy to maintain 
amidst many voices claiming our attention.
We believe, 
help our unbelief. 
Amen