The Daily Devotional Series

Gospel of John

By

Kristi Burchfiel

© 2011 Kristi Burchfiel

Smashwords Edition

All verses are taken from the New American Standard Version

Introduction

What is The Daily Devotional Series?

The Daily Devotional Series was born from my own personal devotions. As part of my daily time with God, I wanted to be able to read and study a whole book of the Bible at a time. However, I also wanted to be able to focus on one specific thought or idea that I could hold on to for the whole day.

Ultimately, I decided to take one book of the Bible at a time, read through one chapter a day, and then focus on a truth from one verse in that chapter. This allows me to balance the consistency of going through a whole book at a time with the specific focus I need for that particular day.

How do I use The Daily Devotional Series?

I encourage you to take the time to read through the entire chapter for each day, but realize that is not necessary to be able to follow and learn from the devotionals. Each devotional focuses on one verse, the truth in that verse, and a response to pray back to God.

May you be blessed as you study God’s word and apply it to your life daily.

Background

The Gospel of John is one of four Biblical accounts of the life and works of Jesus. The author, John, was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and started out being known as one of the “Sons of Thunder” along with his brother James.

However, through his encounter with Jesus, John came to understand what it meant to truly love others. John experienced such a life-altering change that, instead of being a “Son of Thunder,” he refers to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” John’s passion for Jesus Christ and his desire to share Christ’s love motivated him to write his first-hand knowledge of what He experienced and learned in his time with Jesus Christ, Son of God.

John lived the longest of the twelve disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. He probably wrote this book first, but he also wrote several other books of the Bible, including 1, 2, and 3 John and the book of Revelation. More than likely, out of the four Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John was written last, and contains several passages that are unique to this Gospel alone.

John’s focus in writing this book is very clearly to present an argument that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the one true Messiah, and the only way for people to receive the gift of eternal life. John clearly spells out the fact that Jesus is God throughout his writings and challenges his readers to make a choice to believe and follow Jesus Christ.

The clear language and compelling stories and truths found in the Gospel of John have made this a favorite of preachers, evangelists, disciples, and seekers of truth ever since it was written. May your life be touched and as you read through one truth from each chapter and ask God to apply it to your life.

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Chapter 1

John 1:17—For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Truth:

Moses was given the Law to allow us to see God's standard of perfection. If we compare ourselves to the law, none of us measure up. Jesus Christ came in truth; the truth that allowed Him to fulfill God's standard of perfection. He also came in grace; the grace that offers to share that truth with those of us who would submit our lives to Him.

Response:

Lord, Your grace is amazing and Your truth is perfection. Thank You for taking my imperfection and giving me Your grace!

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Chapter 2

John 2:5—His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

Truth:

In this circumstance, Mary knew that Jesus would have the answer, but it might not make sense to the servants. Jesus has the answer to every one of our circumstances, but the answers don't always make sense to us at first. Do we trust Him enough to do whatever He says to do?

Response:

Lord, I don't need to have all the answers. Help me trust and do all that You have for me to do.

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Chapter 3

John 3:36—He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Truth:

God's Son Jesus makes the way for us to receive the gift of eternal life. The Lord is very clear that this is the only way to receive this gift. If someone does not believe and obey, then they have God's wrath. Have we received this gift? Have we shared it with others?

Response:

Lord, thank You for Your amazing gift! Help me to share this amazing gift with everyone I meet.

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Chapter 4

John 4:42—and they were saying to the woman, “it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Truth:

Each person, regardless of how they first heard of Jesus Christ, must eventually have a personal encounter with Him and see Christ for who He is. The testimony of others is important for it draws us to God in the first place. However, the decision to follow Him is ours alone. Have we made a personal decision to follow Christ?

Response:

Lord, thank you for wonderful people who told me of You. Thank You for showing Yourself to me more and more each day as I personally trust in You.

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Chapter 5

John 5:19—Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”

Truth:

Jesus is God, yet He states that He can do nothing but what God the Father has for Him. If Jesus can do nothing without God, how much more does that apply to us! Do we allow Jesus to live through us so that everything we do is done by God?

Response:

Lord, take my life. Help me to decrease and for You to increase so that I, too, do nothing of myself.

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Chapter 6

John 6:6—This He was saying to test him for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

Truth:

When we're confronted with crisis, God offers us the opportunity to trust Him and have faith. In this situation, and in all others, Jesus knew what He was going to do, but He gave the disciples an opportunity to trust in Him and grow in their relationship with Him.

Response:

Lord, help me to trust You even through the hard times when I don't see an answer. I know You already know what You are intending to do.

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Chapter 7

John 7:18—He who speaks for himself seeks his own glory, but he who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Truth:

When we speak, our words reveal a lot about ourselves and our motives. If we are seeking God's will and His glory, then our words will be a direct reflection of those motives. If not, then our words will betray us.

Response:

Lord, I pray that You will help me surrender any motives that are not glorifying to You, then allow me to speak the words that praise and exalt You.

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Chapter 8

John 8:12—Then Jesus again spoke to them saying “I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of Life.”

Truth:

Jesus is the light. Not just any light, the Light of Life. Do we feel like we are stumbling around in darkness throughout our day? Follow the Light in all that we do!

Response:

Lord, You bring Light to the path. Help me to follow You step by step along Your way.

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Chapter 9

John 9:25—He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind now I see.”

Truth:

This man had been healed by Jesus and was called to give an account of what happened. Witnessing is simply about sharing our experience with Jesus Christ. When God works in our lives, do we share what has happened with those we are around?

Response:

Lord, thank You for the witness of this man. Thank You for working in my life; I give You all praise!

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Chapter 10

John 10:10—The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Truth:

Why did Jesus come? He came to give us life and allow us to have it abundantly. The Creator of life came to help us know what life really is. The thief wants to steal this from us. Do we accept the gift of abundant life or do we allow the thief to steal it from us?

Response:

Lord, fill me with Your abundant life as I surrender my life to You.

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Chapter 11

John 11:25—Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”

Truth:

Jesus speaks at this difficult time in their lives to help them understand that He is in control, even of the things that people have no control over like death. Do we trust Him to have the control in all the areas of our life?

Response:

Lord, thank You for being in control and being trustworthy in all areas of life! Thank You for being over all, including death!

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Chapter 12

Johns 12:43—for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Truth:

People who believed in Jesus did not share their faith because they were afraid of what might happen to them. The Bible lists this as their reason. Do we use the same reasoning for the things we do or don't do? Are we actively seeking the approval of God or just settling for the approval of men?

Response:

Lord, help me to be actively seeking Your approval regardless of how other people respond.

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Chapter 13

John 13:35—by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Truth:

The love and care that we show others is a key trait of followers of Jesus. When people look at our lives, do they see Jesus? Do they see Jesus' love displayed to others?

Response:

Lord, I pray my life will testify to You today by the love and care that I show others.

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Chapter 14

John 14:6—Jesus said to him “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Truth:

Jesus is the key. He is the only One through whom we have access to God. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He alone is the Life. He makes it possible for us in our sin and brokenness to come to the Father, the Creator of all things, and be made His child.

Response:

Father thank you for giving us a perfect Way, perfect Truth, and perfect Life.

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Chapter 15

John 15:12—This is my commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Truth:

Love is a commandment. We are to love; not just any love, but love as Jesus loves. We cannot do this alone, but only by Jesus who loves through us. Do we love as Jesus loves us?

Response:

Lord, I want to follow Your command. Help me love as You love!

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Chapter 16

John 16:33—These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Truth:

What encouragement! Jesus Christ has overcome the world and He reminds us of the peace, courage, and hope that we have through Him. Whatever we are going through now, Jesus has overcome!

Response:

Lord, thank You for overcoming and giving peace and hope through You!

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Chapter 17

John 17:15—I do not ask to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

Truth:

Jesus prayed for his disciples. He doesn't ask that they avoid problems all together, but that they avoid the evil one. We are going to have difficulties in this world; Jesus is not taking us away from the hard times. But, He will help us avoid the temptation to sin while in the midst of them.

Response:

Lord, help me to seek You through the tough times, knowing that You are there and will help me go through them without being distracted by the evil one.

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Chapter 18

John 18:11—So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Truth:

God shares with us plans He has for us and we have the option to fight against those plans or to allow those plans to become part of us. Will we “drink the cup” of plans that God has for us or try to fight against God's plan?

Response:

Jesus, since You can drink Your cup, help me to drink the cups that You have for me, so that I may always follow Your will for my life.

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Chapter 19

John 19:30b—He said, “It is finished!” and he bowed his head and gave up His spirit.

Truth:

The Lord Jesus Christ finished everything here that the Father had for Him to do. That is when He was able to voluntarily give up His spirit and complete the sacrifice that He made on our behalf.

Response:

Lord, thank You for the sacrifice that made it possible for me to be in a relationship with You.

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Chapter 20

John 20:21—So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Truth:

The idea of being sent out like Jesus was sent out can cause some anxiety, and yet Jesus tells us to have peace. In truth, we only find peace in being exactly where God has for us to be, doing what God has for us to do.

Response:

Father, I pray that I go when and where You send me, and that I will rest in Your peace.

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Chapter 21

John 21:22—Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Truth:

It can be easy to get focused on other people and what God has planned for their lives. However, we should not allow God’s plans for others to distract us from what God has planned in our own lives. Will we follow God regardless of what other people are called to do?

Response:

Lord, help me to focus on You and follow You regardless of Your plans for the others I'm around.

About the Author

Eight years ago, God led Kristi Burchfiel through difficult times. Only by studying the truths found in the Bible did she find the answers she needed.

Now, Kristi works daily to put those truths into practice. She is passionate about studying the Bible and invites others to share in the peace of God through the truths found in God’s word.

Kristi writes and shares The Daily Devotional Series. The ongoing daily version can be found at http://blog.kristiburchfiel.com. She is also the author of Without Regrets: A Study of Ecclesiastes.

Kristi, her husband D, and their two children currently make their home in Wichita, Kansas where D is the pastor of Southwest Baptist Church.

You can connect with Kristi Burchfiel at: Website – www.kristiburchfiel.com

Twitter – kristiburchfiel

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Smashwords?sk=app_4949752878#!/pages/Without-Regrets-A-Study-of-Ecclesiastes/122149427808582

Other Books:

Without Regrets: A Study of Ecclesiastes

http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61566-500-6

Table of Contents

The Daily Devotional Series

All verses are taken from

Introduction

How do I use The

Background

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Chapter 1

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Chapter 2

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Chapter 3

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Chapter 4

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Chapter 5

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 7

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Chapter 8

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Chapter 9

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Chapter 10

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Chapter 11

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Chapter 12

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Chapter 13

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Chapter 14

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Chapter 15

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Chapter 16

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Chapter 17

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Chapter 18

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Chapter 19

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Chapter 20

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Chapter 21

About the Author