to him.” Judas—not Judas Iscariot—asked Jesus, “Lord, how can it be that you will show
yourself clearly to us and not to the world?”

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will
love him; and we will come to him and live with him. But if anyone does not love me,
he will not keep my words; and these words that you hear are not mine, but the Father
who sent me.

I told you all this while I am still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom
the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all
that I have told you.

Reflect

The people of Lystra mistake Paul and Barnabas for incarnations of the Greek gods Zeus
and Hermes. From our modern, scientific world, we may view these people as uninformed
and superstitious, but we may fall prey to similar behavior, treating things of this world as
though they are God and showering them with the devotion that belongs only to the true God.

An interesting exercise is to review your daily schedule and your budget. On what do you spend
your time and your money? Do your expenditures of time and money reflect your true values
and your love of God? If the answer is no, what changes can you make to more closely align
your way of life with your values? Even small changes can make a big difference over time. We
can fast from small pleasures and give the money to those in need. We can spend less time
on social media and other time wasters and spend the time saved in prayer. By following
God’s commandments and keeping to his words, we will keep our eyes fixed on the true
God who loves and saves us.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023