Day 30
Today’s reading: John 7:1-24
Times and Seasons
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Times and Seasons 〰️
Reflections
One key gift every believer needs to live on earth and fulfill their divine assignment is discernment. Discernment is essential because it enables us to distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of Satan, even when the latter seems to come from people who love and care for us. Here, we see a powerful example of discernment in the way Jesus navigates the opinions and suggestions of others, even when those opinions are coming from people who may have good intentions.
In John 7:1-9, Jesus' brothers, who are not yet fully aligned with His mission, encourage Him to go to Judea and perform public miracles, reasoning that if He truly is the Messiah, He should make Himself known openly. This suggestion might seem logical from a human perspective—after all, if Jesus is who He claims to be, why not take advantage of this opportunity to gain a wider following? But Jesus discerns the underlying motives and timing. His response reveals a deep understanding of God's purpose and timing: “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here” (John 7:6). Jesus is not dismissing His family but showing them that His mission is bound by God’s timing, not human expectations or desires. For the ungodly, the gifts of God might be seen as tools to gain worldly success and influence but for a godly man, alignment with God’s purpose and timing is priority, whether or not there’s any material gain in it. Don’t let the voice of others cause you to step out of line with destiny, the voice of God must always take precedence.
Study Questions
What do you think was the real motive behind Jesus' brothers' questions to Him in John 7? Use a study Bible for additional context to explore their intentions and understanding.
What type of reasoning or logic did Jesus use in His response to the crowd in John 7:21-23? How does His argument challenge their assumptions and beliefs?
Take a moment to reflect: When faced with a problem, is your first instinct to turn to Jesus for the solution? Why do you think that is?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” John 7:17 ESV
