Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Being a little like Jesus

Saturday, March 20, 2010

John 7:45-53
The Pharisees asked, "Why didn't you bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? This crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed."

Nicodemus, a Pharisee who had met Jesus, said, "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?"

But they answered, "Are you from Galilee too? Check the Scriptures: no prophets comes from Galilee!" Then they all went home.

I ask engaged couples where they learned about marriage ... they say from friends, parents, soap operas, sitcoms, Oprah, Dr. Phil ... lots of places. Sometimes what they learn makes sense, sometimes not so much. Sometime they are blessed and grow; sometimes not so much.

Good ratings don't guarantee truth. Neither do experience or longevity. Being certain doesn't mean being right. Jesus was sure of himself, and the Pharisees were too. If I'm one of those guards ping-ponged back and forth between the court and crowd, I'd have no idea what to believe.

How did Nicodemus know? He spent most of his time with fellow Pharisees; he had spent just one night with Jesus (John 3). But there's something in his tone that makes his loyalty to Jesus obvious to his friends.

There is a friend who listens to you, looks at you, knows and values you because you are You. And there is another who has strong words of advice, confident in his own point of view, determined to help you get things together. Truth isn't in either person's words; it's in the way they know you and love you.

Nicodemus followed Jesus and felt his truth because Jesus knew him, listened to him, saw him as a man, not a Pharisee. Later Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Nicodemus knew that personally.

Nicodemus seemed not to feel that authentic transparency with the folks in his circle that night. When that happens to me, it's time for me to settle down and begin looking for ways to BE with someone - with Jesus, with Margaret, with a friend, to know them, listen, love. Jesus wants to show all of us how to do that.

Let me learn every day, Lord, more of how to listen to and learn from and appreciate every one of your children. Like you do.

Devotions Archive

Being a little like Jesus

Saturday, March 20, 2010