May 6, 2026 — Being their “there”

During breakfast one morning, Stan and I were talking about personal testimonies and how important it is to have one that tells others about our faith experiences. Stan mentioned that he saw a simple statement in John’s gospel that shows the importance of having a “there” to talk about.

“A ‘there’ to talk about? What’s that mean?”

“In the last verse of chapter 10 of John’s gospel,” Stan replied, “it’s written that many believed in Jesus ‘there’.”

“While the ‘there’ John was writing about,” he continued, “was that Jesus had gone beyond the Jordan River to where John the Baptist was first baptizing,” it struck me that ‘there’ is wherever a person might be when God did or does something in our lives that we can use to tell others about God and how and why we believe.”

“So they may also believe? Right?”

“Exactly,” Stan replied. “So we might be there for them as well as being their ‘there’.”

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Bible verses to consider:

And many believed in Him there. John 10:42.

But many of the multitude believed in Him; . . . . John 7:31.

And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? Romans 10:14.

And He said to them, “Go into the all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who were there to tell me the truth of the gospel so I could believe. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I am not there to tell others about you so they might believe. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead so I am the “there” where others come to believe. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you have a “there” where you came to believe? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with being there for other people so they can believe in Jesus and have life eternally with God? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does God know you need to be there for others so they might believe by what you say to them? Spend time on this reading and studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?