Gifts That Last

John 14:10b – The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (NIV)

A number of years ago the volunteer co-ordinator at our local hospital asked me if I could spend some time with "Anna" (name changed) — a palliative care patient. Shortly before my first visit, the doctor had told her that she had cancer, and wasn't expected to live. During one of my visits, Anna expressed her main concern: "What about my child? What will happen to my daughter?" "Lori" was fifteen years of age, and had no close living relative to live with when her mother died — at a tender age to be left on her own.

Besides the financial planning to take care of shelter and schooling, her mother wanted to leave a more lasting legacy. In the end, she decided to leave her words, words lovingly written in a journal — letters to Lori — sharing her hope for the future, communicating words of comfort and love for her daughter.

When Christ was facing his own death, he too had one concern: his children — all those who followed him. In the days before his death, Christ shared with all his followers his thoughts about the future. He commissioned and challenged us with the work he'd have us do in order to spread Christianity to the world, and he promised that his Holy Spirit would come to be our comforter. However, Christ was different from Anna, who could only tell her child of her love for her. Christ demonstrated his love for us in that he died in our place as a sacrifice for our sin.

It is in his words that we are able to find comfort, guidance, direction, his will for our lives, and the promise of being reunited with him and our loved ones someday. Christ has left us a beautiful legacy.

John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)

John 14:27a – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. (NIV)

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for leaving us your words of direction and comfort. Help us to read and follow them on a daily basis. But most of all, thank You that while we were sinners You loved us so much that You died for us. Amen.