On 3 March 2020, YEF members continue to meditate on the book of John. This time, they are at John 14:8~14.
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Jesus is one with God the Father, He taught us what was from the Father. He taught us the truth, not some theology or human philosophy.
One member confessed that:
The truth each of us seek in all our lives whether on how to live or what to do, can only be found in God. God created all of us to be loved and to love. This is our fundamental purpose and that is why we love God. It is also why it is the greatest commandment. God also knows what we are all meant to do and if we do seek Him, He will tell us. God created the laws of the world and on how to live, if we obey them, then certainly we will prosper. Being able to love God and those around us while obeying Him is not accomplishable just by human thinking and strength. We will come to realise that only when we seek God and depend on Him as our Father, then we can love God and those around us. And we are no longer slaves to our own sins that we are so deeply trapped in.
As prodigal sons, we always think the way we imagine ourselves to be living in will be good enough for us. Sometimes I would have thoughts about how I want to live and how I want everything in my life to be, so that I can show people that I am very put-together etc. This is especially for internships and my studies. I feel this need to prove others that I am in charge of my life and that I am capable of. But who am I going to impress with this life? Other people will have their own lives to think and worry about. Ultimately I will be accountable to my own life. Do I want to live a life where I can sort of impress others and feel good but suffer may be due to some bad decisions? Or would I want to live a life that God has crafted perfectly for me and intended for me to have great joy?
In all things that God has planned for us, it is with great purpose and only in our best interests. God would not have us suffer needlessly. Suffering produces endurance and teaches us to rely on God. Indeed, the only way we can overcome suffering is to pray and look towards God. The more we rely on Him and seek Him in prayer, the more we will learn of the grace and love He has for us as we pour our sorrows and fears to Him. God knows everything and we must have faith that this is God who is Almighty. He can take away our suffering any time and lift us up. But He has great plans for each of us.
YEF member personal reflections. Please do not reproduce without permission.