“I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” – John 21:18

Samuel Mikolaski was born in January 1923 in the village of Bashaid, in modern day Serbia. The Serbian Orthodox Church he attended as a boy is still situated across the road from the square. Sam’s father Nikola was a master shoemaker; his mother Sofia was an accomplished Serbian folk dancer. The family emigrated to Canada in 1927 when Sam was 4 ½ years old and they settled in Toronto.

 From a young age, Sam worked with his father to support the family and was never able to complete high school. In his early 20’s was befriended by a professor who recognized his academic potential recommended him for university admission to the University of Western Ontario where he achieved a B.A. Arts with Theological Options in the Biblical Languages, and then later went on to an M.A., Philosophy]; B.D. Honors, University of London; and finally, a D.Phil. University of Oxford, granted for his thesis on the Work of Christ.

“Dr. Sam” has had a distinguished career as a theological professor at several seminaries and universities in the United States and Canada and leadership roles in international outreach.

Now 102 years old, Dr. Sam continues to write and speak of the love of Jesus.

Christ wants us to follow Him our entire lives. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has a plan for you and resolve to follow Him your entire life. 

“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.” – Thomas Aquinas

God’s Word: “Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” – John 20:29

During the infamous Dreyfus trial in France in 1894, Jewish army officer Captain Alfred Dreyfus was falsely accused of treason, sparking a national scandal marked by anti-Semitism and injustice. Among Dreyfus’s defenders was Emile Zola, a fearless advocate for truth and justice, who faced relentless opposition in the courtroom. The atmosphere was charged with hostility, and the presiding judge, blatantly biased, refused to allow Zola to call witnesses or challenge the fabricated evidence against Dreyfus.

“The case is closed!” the judge proclaimed, cutting off any attempt at further defense. Unyielding, Zola rose to his feet and pointed to a mural of the crucifixion displayed behind the judge. With bold resolve, he declared, “There was also a case once called a ‘closed case.’”

Zola’s words resonated deeply, pointing to a truth far greater than the courtroom drama unfolding. In the time of Jesus, the authorities believed they had “closed” His case as well. The Romans sealed His tomb, posting guards to ensure their verdict could not be overturned, while the Sanhedrin rested confidently, convinced that Jesus’ chapter was over. To them, the matter was settled.

But human decrees can never override the plans of God. What seemed like the end became the beginning of a new and eternal reality. By God’s power, the stone was rolled away, and Jesus rose from the grave, not as a defeated figure but as the victorious Savior. His resurrection declared that no human verdict, however final it may seem, can thwart the purposes of God.

Faith is seeing beyond our own eyesight. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a Rewarder to all who have faith in Him.

“Faith is an active creative force.” – J.H. Oldham

God’s Word: “‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” – Mark 9:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.” – John 19:38

John Mark Comer, in his book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”, wrote: “Advertising as we now know it started not on Madison Avenue but in another city: Berlin. With another group of power brokers: the Nazis. They took the ideas of an Austrian psychotherapist named Freud, then unknown in America, and used them to manipulate the masses. Freud was one of the first modern thinkers to point out that human beings aren’t nearly as rational or autonomous as we like to think.

We constantly make irrational decisions based on what he called our “unconscious drives” (similar to what the New Testament calls “the flesh”). We are far more emotionally tricked and desire driven than we care to admit.

The Nazis picked up Freud’s ideas and used them to shape their propaganda machine. They appealed not to reason but to Germany’s “unconscious drives.”

Hitler was a master of fanning the two most basic human emotions: I want, and I fear. After the war, it was actually Freud’s nephew, Edward Bernays, who first used Freud’s ideas in America. An intelligence officer during the war, he found himself in need of a job. His theory was that if the Nazis could manipulate people in wartime, then surely business owners and politicians could manipulate people in peacetime. He called his new idea “public relations” and became the so-called “father of American advertising.” Never heard of him? Most haven’t.

He predicted as much in his book Propaganda:

The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.

We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of…. In almost every act of our daily lives…we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who pull the wires which control the public mind.”

Do not let the fear of others affect your testimony of Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He stood up and died for you and give any fears that you have to Him.

“Jesus came treading the waters; and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under His feet. Christians – Why be afraid?” – Augustine

God’s Word: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” – Proverbs 29:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” – John 19:11

Pastor John Ortberg writes in “God Is Closer Than You Think” the following: “When my friend Kim was a young girl, her dad pulled the car off the road one day to help a woman change a flat tire. While he was lying under her car, another vehicle accidentally swerved to the shoulder, and in the collision the car was shoved onto his chest. His right thumb was torn off at the joint, five of his ribs were broken, and his left lung was pierced and began filling with blood. His wife, who is barely five feet tall, placed her hands on the bumper of the car and prayed, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” and lifted the car off his chest so he could be dragged out. (Some weeks later she found out that she broke a vertebra in the effort.) Kim’s father was in a state of shock as he was taken to the hospital.

Doctors prepared for emergency surgery. “His thumb won’t do him any good if he’s dead,” one of them said. His survival was iffy. Suddenly, spontaneously, the man’s skin changed from ashen to pink. He experienced a miraculous healing. He invited a surprised surgical team to join him in singing “Fairest Lord Jesus.” They did not even bother to hook him up to oxygen.

He did not find out until later that this was the precise moment his father-in-law, who was a pastor, had his congregation start to pray for him. Sometimes these stories come from not-very-credible sources—such as publications sold in grocery checkout lines that also carry news about extraterrestrial creatures secretly playing third base for the Boston Red Sox.

In this case, however, the subject was James Loder, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. His life was not only saved, but changed. Until then, although he taught at a seminary, God had been mostly an abstract idea to him. Now Jesus became a living Presence. Kim writes that her father’s heart grew so tender that he became known at Princeton as “the weeping professor.” He began to live from one moment to the next in a God-bathed, God-soaked, God-intoxicated world.”

All power belongs to Jesus and He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is the Truth and in Him there is no shifting.

"Stand firm for Christ in your life. Nothing else will make a difference." – Charles Colson

God’s Word: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message” – John 17:20

Pastor Mia Levetan gives an illustration on God’s time: “My kids are still young enough that they ask cute questions. My youngest is still learning what all the measurements mean. He’ll ask, “Mom, how long until we leave?” “15 minutes.” “Is that long?” “No, baby, that is not long.” Or “Mom, how many days until my birthday?” “8 months” “Is that long?” “Yes, baby, that's long.” Or just this morning he asked, “Has it already been Halloween?” “Yes, it has already been Halloween, but there will be another one in 6 months.”

It is hard for us to wrap our heads around God’s time. Between the prayer and the answer, it can feel like ages—or no time at all. Humans may have come a long way from sundials and hourglasses, but it feels like we’re still working out how God measures time. Aren’t we sometimes a little like a kid who’s trying to get their head around minutes, hours, and days?”

Jesus not only prayed for His disciples but also those who would believe in their message of Him. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and pray for those who you know who do not yet know Jesus Christ.

“To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way we can express our love for them.” – John Calvin

God’s Word: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Pet rocks, a kooky and best-forgotten fad of 1970s America, are resurfacing in South Korea.

South Koreans, who endure one of the industrialized world’s longest workweeks, have a tradition of unwinding in unusual ways. They have lain in coffins for their own mock funerals, checked into prison to meditate, and gathered in a Seoul park each year for a “space-out” contest.

Pet rocks are the latest new thing in their search for peace. Lee So-hee, a 30-year-old researcher at a pharmaceutical company, made her pet rock a winter blanket from an old towel. It came into her life during a demanding stretch at work when she was working long hours in the lab, often late into the night.

“I’d occasionally complain to my rock about what a tiresome day I had at work,” she said. “Of course, it’s an inanimate object that can’t understand you. But it’s kind of like talking to your dog, and can feel relaxing in some ways.”

Our focus needs to be on the person who gives peace – Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that we have peace in Him because we trust that He died for our sins.

“Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?” – Gerard Majella

God’s Word: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Just south of Santa Barbara, in Carpinteria, California the Coast Highway was the largest grapevine in United States history. Planted in 1842, the grapevine’s base circumference measured to be 9 feet, 9 inches in 1906. At that point, a trellis supported a quarter acre of its viney canopy. 

In 1915, the grapevine was moved to the current site of Aliso School. Preserved there as a tourist attraction for several years, the vine was later relocated to the Fish Camp—now Carpinteria State Beach—for visitors to ogle. Its final resting place was on the Upson property near Santa Monica Road.

Unfortunately, the vine died from neglect when “termites literally ate up the old stump and by 1924 it had disintegrated.”

When we stay connected to Christ, we can continually produce fruit. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has chosen you to be His instrument on earth and seek to stay connected to Him and to do His will.

“I was but a pen in God's hand, and what praise is due to a pen?” – Richard Baxter

God’s Word: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” – John 15:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6

The Goodwin Islands are a 780 acres archipelago of uninhabited salt marsh islands off the coast of York County, Virginia, at the mouth of the York River in Chesapeake Bay. They are owned by the College of William & Mary and are managed on the college's behalf by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The sole means of transportation to the Goodwin Islands is by boat, with permission being required to perform certain activities.

The islands and their surrounding waters are home to many birds and fish. Primary ecological community groups are situated on the islands, such as tidal marshes, maritime dune grasslands, salt scrub, and maritime upland forest. Salt marsh vegetation throughout the island primarily consists of salt marsh cordgrass and salt meadow hay. Shrub vegetation is dominant at forested wet land ridges. The upland ridges of the largest island in the archipelago are home to oak and pine tree species. Tides in the waters of the Goodwin Islands are semi-diurnal.

Though the Goodwin Islands are a tenth of a mile from the nearest shore, they remain isolated unless you travel by boat.

The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. We all must put our faith in Him to receive eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is the way for us to return to our Heavenly Father.

“Christ is the only way to salvation.” – Ulrich Zwingli

God’s Word: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” – John 10:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” – John 13:14-15

In his book “Stillness is the Key” author Ryan Holiday wrote: “In the intro sequence of the beloved children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the first interior shot does not show the host. Instead, in the beat before Fred Rogers appears on the screen singing his cheerful song about being a good neighbor, viewers see a traffic light, blinking yellow. For more than thirty years and for nearly a thousand episodes, this subtle piece of symbolism opened the show. If as a hint, it went over the heads of most people watching, viewers were still primed to get the message. Because whether Fred Rogers was speaking on camera, playing in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe with King Friday the Puppet, or singing one of his trademark songs, just about every frame of the show seemed to say:

Slow down. Be considerate. Be aware.

As a child at Latrobe Elementary School in Pennsylvania, Fred Rogers had been a victim of vicious bullying. Kids picked on him because of his weight and because he was sensitive about it. It was a horrible experience, but this pain spurred his groundbreaking work in public television. “I began a lifelong search for what is essential,” he said about his childhood, “what it is about my neighbor that doesn’t meet the eye.” He even framed a print of that idea on the wall of his production studio in Pittsburgh, a snippet from one of his favorite quotes: ‘L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.’ ‘What’s essential is invisible to the eye.’”

The greater things in life are serving God and serving others. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has called you to follow Him and to be a servant.

“Wash what is dirty, water what is dry, heal what is wounded. Bend what is stiff, warm what is cold, guide what goes off the road.” – Stephen Langton

God’s Word: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“‘Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’” – John 12:28

Pastor Tim Smith of First United Methodist Church in Slidell, Louisiana tells how we can bring glory to God: “Mark is a young businessman who does business in China. Each time he has gone to China, he has asked God to reveal to him whom he might speak to on behalf of Jesus. What might happen if every one of you went to work praying for God to reveal to him whom he might speak to on behalf of Jesus. You’re a missionary and that’s what missionaries do. Mark was there in China for 3 weeks and kept praying this prayer. And finally on the last day, there was a Chinese engineer and Mark was able to share how Jesus had changed his life. And as a result they developed a relationship. On his next trip, Mark went to church in China even though he didn’t understand anything because it was in Mandarin. When it came time to make his offering, he went forward with everyone else, put his offering in and then they handed him two tickets. The tickets were for a seat on Christmas Eve and they do this because so many Chinese flood to the churches that you can’t get a seat. Mark gave his tickets to the Chinese engineer which covered two families. He took his family and his mother in law’s family. He then emailed Mark to tell them that night they all made a commitment of their life to Jesus Christ. This Chinese engineer has now been hired by the company that Mark works for as their full-time rep in China and so now Mark and he have this day-to-day relationship. Now here’s the thing: I as a minister can’t get into China but business people can.”

When we fellowship with the Lord, we cannot help but help bring Him glory. Today in prayer, reflect the glory of God by focusing your gaze on His grace and love revealed in the person of Christ.

“The glory of God, and as our only means to glorify Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” – 1 Peter 2:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35

Chuck DeGroat, pastor, counselor, and professor of pastoral care at Western Seminary shares the following story from early on in his training as a counselor:

“I had hit a rut in my pastoral life, fatigued by the complicated people I was trying to help. Most disheartening to me was the narcissistic executive who would “power up” in our pastoral counseling sessions, firing accusations at his wife like a lawyer nailing a case, and even intimidating me whenever he saw a chink in my pastoral armor. “Chuck, you’re young,” he once said with a condescending smile. “You’ve only been married a short time.

You probably don’t understand what it’s like to endure a woman’s crazy mood swings.” He was a master intimidator, and I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. Part of me just wanted out. In a meeting with fellow counseling interns, I told my sad tale, looking both for sympathy and for a way out of this pastoral-care mess. And then my friend said something life-changing — something so truthful and profound that I felt as if she’d broken into the darkness of my cave of perception.

“You know, he has a story too.” My first thought was, Umm, what about me? I’m the victim here. How about some pity for the poor therapist of this jerk? But I swallowed those immediate feelings and asked what she meant. “He has a story,” she said. “Aren’t you just a bit curious about it?” With one question, she rehumanized the man.

Compassion welled up in my soul as I began to wonder about his life’s story. Had he been bullied at some point? Had he, perhaps, been a victim of abuse? And how powerless must he feel inside to so aggressively overpower the people he loved the most?

Our default mode when we deal with difficult people is to demand repentance or to devise fix-it strategies or to offer insights to straighten people out. But working with people requires a special kind of vision. It requires us to see the bigger picture. Whether we’re working with one difficult individual or with an entire congregation or company, our challenge is to keep that larger perspective in mind.”

Jesus has compassion for the world. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is our model of compassion and seek to have a tender heart toward others.

“You may call God love, you may call God goodness. But the best name for God is compassion.” – Meister Eckhart

God’s Word: “Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.” – Jeremiah 9:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me” – John 10:25

Faith deconstruction, also known as deconstructing faith, religious deconstruction, or simply deconstruction, is a process during which religious believers reexamine and question their beliefs. It originated in American evangelicalism, where it may be called evangelical econstruction.

Alan Jamieson, in his book A Churchless Faith, describes faith deconstruction as follows:

“The deconstruction of their previously received faith leads people engaged in this process to successively examine the individual components of their faith. People engaged in the deconstruction of their faith remove each article of the belief and value system of their received faith and submit it to a process of ongoing reflection. This process involves a questioning and scrutinizing of the particular belief or value. The important aspect of this process is that each component of their faith is critiqued on the basis of whether the individual will appropriate it as part of their own personal belief or value system.”

Do not let any question interfere with your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is worthy of our faith in Him.

“None but the Lord himself can afford us any help from the awful workings of unbelief, doubtings, carnal fears, murmurings. Thank God one day we will be done forever with ‘unbelief’” – Arthur W. Pink

God’s Word: “‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” – Mark 9:23-24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.” – John 10:14-15

In September 2024, Richard Aspinwall, the at Apalachee (Winder, Georgia) high school mathematics teacher and football coach, was killed trying to protect the children in his classroom.

Aspinwall, 39, was teaching a class when banging was heard on lockers adjacent to the classroom. Instead of hiding with his students, the teacher decided to try to protect them by going outside the room.

“My teacher, Coach Aspinwall, he opened the door, and he ran outside to see what’s going on,” said Stephanie Reyna.

The sound of gunshots could be heard moments after and Aspinwall was found lying prone in the doorway of the classroom. “He was just there, in the doorway, just laying there. He was trying to crawl back to us … We just think he was trying to get to us,” she said.

"Ricky Aspinwall died protecting people that meant the world to him, and that's his students," said Trevor Metzger, Aspinwall's high school friend. "That's what I want this world to know about Ricky Aspinwall."

There is no greater love than dying for someone, and that is precisely what Jesus Christ did for you. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He voluntarily laid down His life for you.

“God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’” – John 8:31

In his book “The Listening Life” author Adam S. McHugh writes the following: “It would seem that hearing is but a narrow channel pouring into the deep sea of doing. Yet the etymological dictionary taught me that the sharp distinction between hearing and doing is the result of human beings tearing asunder what belongs together.

For this is its lesson: the words listen and obey have the same root. In Latin, the word “obey” would not exist without the word “listen.” The word we translate into English as “obedience” literally means a “listening from below.” Obedience is a deep listening, a listening of the whole person, a hearing with your ears and with your heart and with your arms and legs.”

It is curious that some people are overly obedient to machines, but they will not follow the Lord. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you a heart that is ready and willing to follow after Him.

“Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call.” – Henry P. Liddon

God’s Word: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.” – John 7:13

King George V of the United Kingdom rose to power in 1911. During the next 25 years of his reign, he saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, Irish republicanism, and the Indian independence movement, all of which radically changed the political landscape of the British Empire.

But it was early in World War I that fears in Great Britain began to rise. He shared a New Year’s card with his friends that featured a drawing of an open gate. Below the image, he included this heartfelt message:

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

“The man at the gate replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That will be better for you than a light and safer for you than seeing the way.’”

As Christians, we should give our fears to Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that we need not be fearful in any situation.

“Whenever I hear about Christ as Savior it appears that he saves us from sin – and I don’t wish to deny that – but in my experience he does more than that: he releases us from fear, and I think fear is the great killer.” – Ivor Smith-Cameron

God’s Word: “The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“‘Stop grumbling among yourselves,’ Jesus answered.” – John 6:43

In his book “Mere Christianity”, Christian apologist C.S. Lewis writes the following about grumbling and hell: “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others…but you are still distinct from it. You may even criticize it in yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then there will be no you left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine. It is not a question of God “sending us” to hell. In each of us there is something growing, which will BE Hell unless it is nipped in the bud.”

Chronic complaining is a sin. Today in prayer, confess any sin of grumbling and complaining to the Lord.

“Anyone who complains or grumbles is not perfect, nor even a good Christian.” – John of the Cross

God’s Word: “Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” – James 5:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me” – John 5:39

Augustine of Hippo came to the Lord at age 31 after living a worldly life. In Book Eight of Confessions, Augustine recounts how, in a state of deep inner turmoil, he “heard from a nearby house a voice, as of a boy or girl, I know not which, chanting repeatedly, ‘Take up and read. Take up and read.’” The words didn’t match any child’s game he knew. “So, halting my torrent of tears, I got up, interpreting it as a command from God to open the Scriptures and read the first passage my eyes fell upon.” He turned to Romans 13:13-14, and in that moment, his heart was transformed. Augustine’s life was forever changed, and he went on to become one of the most profound and influential figures in Christian history.

The Bible is the testimony of Jesus Christ. Throughout its books, it declares that Jesus is Lord of all. Today in prayer, worship the Lord and give Him all of your life for His glory.

“The Bible is the portrait of Jesus Christ.” – John Stott

God’s Word: “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” – Luke 24:44

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’” – John 4:34

On May 1, 2023, a small aircraft carrying seven passengers crashed deep in the Amazon rainforest, one of the most remote regions on Earth. The Cessna had been flying between two villages in southern Colombia when its single engine failed. It vanished into the jungle canopy, and all seven onboard were presumed dead.

The crash site was finally located two weeks later. Three passengers had died on impact. But four were missing—all siblings, ranging in age from 13 years to 11 months. No trace of them nearby. Just silence.

Hope waned as weeks passed. Rescuers dropped food, water, and whistles into the jungle, unsure if the children were even alive. Incredibly, they were—but they were hiding. Afraid and unsure if those searching were friends or foes, the children avoided the very people trying to save them.

Colombia intensified the effort: 150 soldiers, 40 volunteers, rescue dogs. Clues emerged—tiny footprints, a baby bottle, used diapers. Raised near the jungle, the older children knew how to survive. But even so, they were just kids. Could they really make it?

Then came a breakthrough. Rescuers recorded the children’s grandmother calling to them: “Stay in one place. Help is on the way.” They broadcast her voice through speakers lowered into the trees—her familiar voice calling them home.

On day forty, the children were found—starved, bitten, exhausted, but alive. What finally drew them out wasn’t the army or the food—it was a voice they trusted.

Do you desire to do God’s will in your life? Today in prayer, listen to His voice and follow His call.

“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” – Acts 20:24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30

In his book “Family Discipleship that Works”, Brian Dembowczyk writes: “One of the cardinal rules of improvisational theater is that actors must never steal scenes. In her book Improvisation for the Theater, Viola Spolin bluntly puts it this way: “Any player who ‘steals’ a scene is a thief.” On the stage, not stealing scenes is necessary to keep the performance going.

In God’s drama, the same rule applies for a different reason. When we try to steal a scene—when we fail to live in humility—we are stealing the at- tention Jesus deserves as the star. When all eyes should be on Jesus, we get determined to change that. We want those eyes to be on us, so we try to steal the scene from him. It’s the fruit of sinful pride, plain and simple.”

As we grow in Christ, we need to become more humble and to give more glory to the Lord. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is worthy of our praise and give Him glory throughout the day.

“We must view humility as one of the most essential things that characterizes Christianity.” – Jonathan Edwards

God’s Word: “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” – John 3:3

In their book “Who in the World is the Holy Spirit?”, authors Tim Chester and Christopher de la Hoyde write: “Hannah was one of my wife’s work colleagues. She used to love spending time with our congregation, but she found the gospel message just plain weird. We did some Bible studies with her over the summer and she kept looking at us in astonishment. We would read about Jesus walking on water, rising from the dead, and ascending into heaven. “You really believe all this?” she would ask. Later she told us what we believed sounded crazy. Yet she kept telling herself, ‘They seem like sensible people who are able to hold down jobs.’

Then one day a member of our community challenged her, ‘don’t wait until all your questions have been answered,’ she said. Just ask yourself whether you can trust Jesus. Hannah went home and she describes how she was sitting on the floor in her front room when suddenly she knew it was all true. In that moment she became a Christian. What happened as she sat on her living room floor? The Holy Spirit came on her. There was no shining light or audible voice but the Holy Spirit came to give her faith in Jesus. This is what Jesus meant when in John chapter 3 verse 3 he says: “I tell you the truth no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Happiness, peace, and contentment can only be found in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in Him you have a rich, eternal life.

“For a soul to come to Jesus, is the grandest event in its history.” – Joseph Alleine

God’s Word: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” – John 2:11

Christian physicist and MIT professor Ian Hutchinson wrote “Can a scientist believe in miracles?” He affirms his answer “I’m a scientist, and I believe in miracles. So, the answer is yes.”

He notes that most of us don’t understand the Bible’s view of miracles. He says, “We tend to view God as mostly hands-off, standing on the sidelines, letting nature look after itself, but then on rare occasions reaching in to tweak things by the odd miracle here and there.” But Hutchinson argues that according to the Bible, “[God] continuously holds the universe in the palm of his hand … It exists because of his continuous creative power and will: If he were to stop exerting that upholding power, stop paying attention to every part of the universe, it would instantly cease to exist.”

Thus, he defines a miracle this way: A miracle is “an extraordinary act of God” by which God “upholds a part of the universe in a manner different from the normal.” He adds, “Yes, we know more today than people did long ago, but what we know today makes the universe seem, if anything, even more open."

The same God who performed miracles in the Bible continues to do so to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He continually shows us His glory and place your faith in Him.

“A miracle is an event beyond the power of any known physical law to produce; it is a spiritual occurrence produced by the power of God, a marvel, a wonder.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” – Exodus 14:31

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12

In their book “Does God Really Like Me?: Discovering the God Who Wants to Be With Us” authors Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw write: “Being made in God’s image is also about God’s purposes in the world (God through us). In order to understand how image is connected with purpose, we need to understand a common practice in the ancient world. Since the end of the Second World War in 1945, North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family.

Kim Il Sung and then his son Kim Jong Il ruled for over sixty-six years, demanding total loyalty and even veneration. To this day pictures of these leaders are hung in just about every home, office building, and school. There are over five hundred statues of Kim Il Sung all around North Korea. Kim Il Sung’s grandson, Kim Jong Un, assumed power in 2011 and is now building three enormous statues on the highest mountain in North Korea as a tribute to himself, his father, and his grandfather.

These pictures and statues are constant reminders to the people of North Korea that the Kim’s are in charge and demand their loyalty. In the same way, to show where they ruled and reigned, kings in the ancient world set up giant statues of themselves. The kings placed these images in the center of their cities and at the borders of their lands to remind people who was in charge. As we said in chapter three, an image isn’t something we look at on a screen, a reflection in a mirror, or picture seen with the eyes.

Image refers to a statue or a figure that can be touched—something we can’t ignore. In the ancient world it was understood that a god would have a living image of himself in the world. But the living image only applied to one person: the king! Egyptian and Babylonian kings—and they alone—were called the image of god. Because the king was the god’s image in the world, the king was also the rightful ruler of the kingdom, and he set up images of himself to remind everyone that he alone was in charge. Great for the king. Bad for everyone else. All of Humanity Rules!”

No matter what your situation in life, the Lord of the Universe loves you as His child. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a loving God and He has given us the right to become His children through Jesus Christ.

“Unless we have seen in Jesus what God is like we would never even have dared to think of ourselves as being able to become the children of God. It is what Jesus is that opens to us the possibility of becoming the children of God.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN †