ACTS 12:24–13:5A

The word of God continued to spread and grow. After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

JOHN 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me."

Do we follow Jesus through the doubts and difficulties that our daily cross offers us? Do we do so, confident that the one in whom we believe is the true Son of God who cannot deceive or be deceived? Jesus makes the claim that people come face-to-face with God through him. His claim here is radical: to listen to him is to listen to God; to see him is to see God; to love him is to love God. Since such is the case, how can we af ford to be lukewarm before Jesus?

Christians fall into lukewarmness because of neglect that causes the image of Jesus to be obscured in their memory. They no longer cultivate friendship with Christ. Everything supernatural is reduced to lifeless duties to do’s and don’ts, rather than loving a person, the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us that he did not come into the world to condemn it. Rather, he came to save the world. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. It was not the wrath of God that beckoned him to this world. It was his unquenchable love for mankind. Still, in John’s Gospel we see a recurring paradox. Jesus came in love yet his love is a judgment on the heart of the person who experiences it. Love is reciprocal. It demands a response.

In what areas of our life are we lukewarm in our relationship with Jesus?

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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