November 24, 2024

Do You Believe This?

April 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.
The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.
Do you believe this?”
John 11:25 and 26

Such a powerful question hidden in the story of Lazarus.  I’ve missed it many times before.  But Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter—DO you believe this?

Jesus wants to know if we believe HIM.  Do we believe the power and the promises He made in verse 25?

  • The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
  • Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.

I believe, just as Martha did (verse 27), that Jesus is the Christ, the Beloved Son of God.  But do I truly believe (as He told her) He is the ultimate Conqueror of death?  John 1:4 (AMP) tells us “In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.”  John 3:36 (HCSB) makes it very clear what our choices are: “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”  And 1 John 5:12 (HCSB) reminds us, “The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life.”

I do not want to bear the consequences of not believing!  For me, Philippians 3:10 (AMP) highlights what it looks like to believe Jesus:

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]….

I want to know the power that flows from Jesus’ Resurrection.  Power that transforms us into His likeness and gives us eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NLT) states that since we believe “that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
Philippians 3:21 (HCSB) states “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” Romans 8:10 (NLT) tells us it is that power that makes us right with God: “And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.”

Yes, yes, yes!
I want the power and promises of Jesus’ Resurrection.
I want the eternal Life only He can offer.
Don’t you? So the question remains—

Do you believe this?

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, I believe.  I believe You are the Resurrection and the Life.  Thank You for the power that flows from Your death on the cross.  Thank You for the promises Your Resurrection holds.  I truly believe You conquered death so that we might be right with God and have eternal life.  Hallelujah!  Christ is risen indeed!  In Your Mighty Name I pray, Amen – It Is So!

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God Has The Final Say

April 6, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

“…I AM the Resurrection and the Life.”
John 11:25

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Remember what He told you back in Galilee—
that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified,
and that He would rise again on the third day.”
Luke 24:6-7

I know Easter is all about what Christ has done for us and our sins and our salvation.  Jesus IS the Resurrection and the Life, and because of Him we live. Here’s another way to look at it though…

God has the final say in everything.

When times look rough and just make no sense at all…when bad is just surrounded by bad and worse just keeps getting worse…we have to remember that God has the final say.

Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me at all
unless it were given to you from above…’
John 19:11a

  • At the Red Sea, when the Israelites appeared to be trapped with nowhere to go, God appeared and made a way. When Pharaoh and his army began to follow, God washed them away. (Exodus 14)
  • In the boat during the storm, the disciples were afraid they would die, but Jesus delivered them. (Matthew 8:23-27)
  • When Lazarus died and all hope was lost, Jesus brought him back! (John 11)

When life starts to beat you down and nothing makes sense, and the fight seems lost remember the next sentence in Luke 24:

“Then they remembered that He said this.”
verse 8

The great thing is this—when all else fails remember, no matter what you are facing, God has the final say.  It’s not over until God says it is, and (in case you forgot!) we win at the end!

Things in this life are simply things in this life.  1 John 2:17a says, “And this world is fading away…”  This is not the end.  Nothing can happen to us that can rob us of our ultimate prize.  Whether it be illness, death, sorrow, or fear…we still have a place in Heaven.

Yes, it would be awesome to have an easy life here on Earth, and for everything to be just comfortable and perfect, but that’s not how it works!   This is not the end, and nothing will be perfect until we are home in Heaven.   So, keep that in mind.

Yes, we are may face some horrible situations and circumstances
but, in the end, everything will be okay.

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I AM The Resurrection and The Life

April 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary,
to console them concerning their brother.
Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him,
but Mary stayed at the house.
Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here,  my brother would not have died. 
Even now I know that whatever You ask of God,
God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life;
he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ,
the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
John 11:17-27

from The Gospel of John movie (2003)
narrated by Christopher Plummer; Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus

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This Week…I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14)

April 4, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

 Jesus said to him,
I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 14:6

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have listened to the words of our Lord recorded in John chapter 14.  Here Jesus made it clear that He is the only Way to the Father.   Jesus was direct in His words…it was ‘all or nothing’ (as Cynda so succintly put it)!  Our devotional writers have shared some insight on these words spoken by our Lord…specifically regarding the statement He made, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”    Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Tina, Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee wrote to encourage us.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

In One Path, Cynda encouraged us to believe Jesus’ statement in verse 6.

“In this verse, Jesus makes a very bold statement—one that forces us to make a decision.  It is an all-or-nothing deal.  There is simply no middle ground. Either Jesus is the only Way to the Father or Jesus is not telling the truth.  (That was so hard for me to type!)

Consider the following verses:

Jesus said to her, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.
The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.
Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 HCSB

“Do you believe this?”  That is the crux of the matter.  Those four words sum it up in a nutshell.   What do you believe?”

❦

In Your Compass, Ahmee reminded us of the importance of knowing the Truth from the Scriptures.

“If ever we wonder what we should do, we have a Compass to point us in the right direction.  Jesus said that He is “…The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”  So, when we come across new teachings we need to be diligent in comparing this teaching to the Word of God that we know.

Anyone can look at the Bible and interpret it the way they want; but that doesn’t mean that you should blindly follow every interpretation of the Bible.  Go to it and read for yourself.  What does God say to you about what you are reading, and what does He say to you about the teaching you just heard?

There are concepts and things in the Bible that we KNOW for a fact.  We would know it immediately if we were to hear a teaching that contradicted what we KNOW to be true from our time spent in the Word.”

❦

In Jesus IS The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Ann pointed out the dangers of being without The Way, The Truth, and The Life!

“Without The Way?  There is no going…where can you go if there is no way through?  We cannot go to the Father except through Jesus.  The way gives us access to wherever we want to go.  Therefore Jesus is the True Access to the many blessings the Lord has in store for us.

Without The Truth? Wow, just having Christ in us and us in Him we are assured of having knowledge of the truth of the great things—for Christ knows all.  For it means we know God, too!

Jesus is life.  Without The Life?  Well,  “no Jesus=no life”.  Accepting Him as the Lord and Savior gives us eternal life.  We thank God for giving us life through Christ Jesus.”

❦

In The Map to Salvation, Laura reminded us of the practical application of being able to follow directions when we follow Jesus.

“Here on Earth, directions can be very confusing.  Directions can especially be confusing when landmarks are similar, or the person giving them can confuse me if they start describing landmarks or road names when I have never been in the area.  It is probably this way for a lot of people.

Yet, when it comes to eternal life, we have a great road map for directions!  Jesus gave us this road map when He spent His last moments before the Crucifixion with His disciples.  He told them that He is the Way to God.  He is the Truth from God.  Jesus brought God’s truth to us and gave us the life.”

❦

And in Know The Father Through His Son Jesus, Tina pointed out how Jesus, being the very image of His Father, made Him known to the Apostles.

“Through their training and living with Jesus, the Apostles may have just looked at him as just a man with an anointing from God.  Not as Who He truly is—Jesus being the image of God.  This thought is pretty cool though.  Just think of being around Jesus, who is the image of God, for three years.  I would imagine I might  just take for granted Jesus being with us everyday, not thinking He was going to ever leave.  I would, not intentionally, not listen as intently. I would hear, but not really.  Then once He was gone I would regret not having been more intentional in listening, as well as noting everything being said…watching the miracles being performed…wishing I had asked for God to anoint me in much the same way as His Son. ”

❦

Have you had the opportunity to read through these blogposts this week?  If not, I would encourage you to do so!  Our bloggers have made these as well as some other wonderful points to direct us towards Jesus, Who IS The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  Through Him, and ONLY through Him, do we have access to God the Father.

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One Path

April 3, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Jesus said to him, I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 14:6 AMP

In this verse, Jesus makes a very bold statement—one that forces us to make a decision.  It is an all-or-nothing deal.  There is simply no middle ground. Either Jesus is the only Way to the Father or Jesus is not telling the truth.  (That was so hard for me to type!)

Consider the following verses:

Jesus said to her, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.
The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.
Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 HCSB

“Do you believe this?”  That is the crux of the matter.  Those four words sum it up in a nutshell.   What do you believe?

I believe that God revealed Himself in Jesus.  I believe that Jesus is the perfect human revelation of God.  I believe that without Christ on the Cross, we would only be able to come before God as our Judge and not as our Father.  I had never considered that Jesus wasn’t telling the truth.  As I pondered that question, I went looking for Scripture that supports what I believe.  Here is what I found:

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead)
continues to dwell in bodily form
[giving complete expression of the divine nature].
Colossians 2:9 AMP

Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest
Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
Hebrews 4:14 AMP

He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven],
not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves
[by which to make reconciliation between God and man],
but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption
(an everlasting release for us).
Hebrews 9:12 AMP

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins,
good for all time.
Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Hebrews 10:12 NLT

God in bodily form.  Doesn’t that just blow your mind?  Jesus is our High Priest, a willing sacrifice as an atonement for all our sins.  Jesus secured eternal redemption for us.  All we need to do is believe that He is who He says He is—the only Way to the Cross, the Truth of the Word in an earthly body and the Giver of eternal Life.

As John 8:32 (AMP) states:

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

We know the Truth when we have a relationship with Jesus and believe solely in Him…that is what sets us free.  Truly free.  That’s what I want—to be free indeed!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for sending a perfect representation of You in bodily form.  Thank You for providing Your Only Son as the only Way for us to have eternal Life.  I truly desire to be free.  Only Jesus can set me free.  I firmly believe He is The Way, The Truth and The Life and the only Way I can call You ‘Abba’ is through Him.  In His Holy name I pray, Amen – It is so!

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Your Compass

April 2, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

 Jesus said to him,
I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 14:6

What’s true…or not…is not for us to decide.  Truth is truth.  The Lord helps make this simple by being that Truth.  If ever we wonder what we should do, we have a Compass to point us in the right direction.  Jesus said that He is “…The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”  So, when we come across new teachings we need to be diligent in comparing this teaching to the Word of God that we know.

Anyone can look at the Bible and interpret it the way they want; but that doesn’t mean that you should blindly follow every interpretation of the Bible.  Go to it and read for yourself.  What does God say to you about what you are reading, and what does He say to you about the teaching you just heard?

There are concepts and things in the Bible that we KNOW for a fact.  We would know it immediately if we were to hear a teaching that contradicted what we KNOW to be true from our time spent in the Word.  I myself have encountered instances where someone was preaching and what they said directly went against what I KNOW to be true from the Bible.  I have also heard teaching that I was uncertain about. But everything in my spirit screamed, “This is not correct…run! Run quickly!”

Pastors are awesome.  They help teach us and guide us and share knowledge about the Word of God.  However, your Pastor cannot KNOW the Word of God for you.  You must KNOW it for yourself, so that you can live it and apply it and discern what you are being taught.

The Bible says that we should, “…not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world” (1 John 4:1).

There is only one Truth and one Way—the Way of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, help us to have discerning minds.  Let us not be critical or cynical, but discerning.  We desire to be good stewards of Your Word and teaching.  We do not desire to lead anyone astray.  Help us to clearly interpret Your Word and spread nothing but Your Truth to one another that we may grow to be a truth-loving and -following people of God.  Amen.

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Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE

April 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Jesus answered, “I AM The Way and The Truth and The Life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.
If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.
From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:6-7 NIV

The topic this week reminds me of a song we used to sing in my Sunday school days, here are the lyrics.

I am The Way and The Truth and The Life;
That’s what Jesus said
Without The Way there is no going,
Without The Truth there is no knowing,
Without The Life there is no growing,
I am The Way and The Truth and The Life;
That’s what Jesus said

Very true!  Without The Way?  There is no going…where can you go if there is no way through?  We cannot go to the Father except through Jesus.  The Way give access to wherever we want to go.  Therefore Jesus is the True Access to the many blessings the Lord has in store for us. We need to accept that Jesus is the only access and that sure way to everything.

Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand
and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
Romans 5:2

Without The Truth? Wow, just having Christ in us and us in Him we are assured of having knowledge of the truth of the great things—for Christ knows all.  For it means we know God, too!

If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.
From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?
The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority.
Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.
John 14: 7-10 NIV

Jesus is life.  Without The Life?  Well,  “no Jesus=no life”.  Accepting Him as the Lord and Savior gives us eternal life.  We thank God for giving us life through Christ Jesus.  Otherwise there was no one to pay for our sins if it was not for Christ.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, we thank You for giving us Christ Jesus to be our Way, our Truth, and our Life. We are able to access abundant blessings through Him. We are able to know Your Word through Him.  And we have life through Him.  He is a blessing to our lives.  We pray for the grace to remain in Him and Him in us!  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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The Map to Salvation

March 31, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going,
so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.
If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.
From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:5-7

Have you ever been given directions on how to get somewhere?  I have, and sometimes they are hard to follow.  I get lost just trying to follow the GPS on my husband’s phone.  If I don’t know the area, I will get lost with the simplest of directions.  I have to have landmarks; they help me know exactly where I am going.  If you give me directions, make sure to give me landmarks, too, to look for while I am driving.

I must know the way if I am going to get where I am going.  Here on Earth, directions can be very confusing.  Directions can especially be confusing when landmarks are similar, or the person giving them can confuse me if they start describing landmarks or road names when I have never been in the area.  It is probably this way for a lot of people.

Yet, when it comes to eternal life, we have a great road map for directions!  Jesus gave us this road map when He spent His last moments before the Crucifixion with His disciples.  He told them that He is the way to God.  He is the truth from God.  Jesus brought God’s truth to us and gave us life.

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive;
he was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:31-32

Remember the parable of the prodigal son?  We are the prodigal sons and daughters of God.  Just like the prodigal son in Jesus’s parable, we have wandered away…thinking that we know what is best for ourselves.  And we mess up.  We sin.  We get away from God.

When we finally hit rock bottom, we come back.  We are like the prodigal son who goes looking for his father’s help.  We seek our Father’s (God’s) help in turning our life around.  Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  By accepting Him, we are reconciled with God and given a new life.  God rejoices when we come back to the True Way.  We were once lost, but now we are found.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the way back to You.  Thank You for the truth and the eternal life that became ours when Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross.  Without it we would be forever lost.  We rejoice when we find you again and You rejoice as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Know The Father Through His Son Jesus

March 30, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I AM The  Way and The Truth and The Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”  Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?  The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.  Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.

John 14:5-14 

Jesus loves me.  Jesus loves you.  When you and I study the Bible, we are learning about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The words we read are inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Nothing is written where the power of God did not move the people to write, translate, and compile the book we know as the Bible.

Can you hear Jesus’ frustration with Philip?  (Though I am not sure I may not have asked the same question.)  Through their training and living with Jesus, the Apostles may have just looked at him as just a man with an anointing from God.  Not as Who He truly is—Jesus being the image of God.  This thought is pretty cool though.  Just think of being around Jesus, who is the image of God, for three years.  I would imagine I might  just take for granted Jesus being with us everyday, not thinking He was going to ever leave.  I would, not intentionally, not listen as intently. I would hear, but not really.  Then once He was gone I would regret not having been more intentional in listening, as well as noting everything being said…watching the miracles being performed…wishing I had asked for God to anoint me in much the same way as His Son.

This reminds me of Elisha and Elijah in the Old Testament.  In this record, just before Elijah was taken up to be with God, Elisha asked for the anointing of Elijah’s power, to do God’s work with His people. Just by taking up Elijah’s robe, Elisha was able to continue to do God’s great work among the Jewish people. In reading about the prophet, I just realized the young boy Elisha healed through God…was Habakkuk. Just amazing how God works in everyone’s life!!!

God is wonderful.  He coordinates, orchestras our lives in ways we never realize.  This Easter season, look for ways to bless others and to be a blessing.   Ask the neighbor if they want to go to an Easter celebration with you, or if they would like to have lunch or dinner with you and your family this year.  If you do this already, expand and invite others.  Be a blessing. God will reward you greatly.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Thank You, Father, for Your love.  Thank You for watching over us and keeping us safe in all areas of our life.  Give us opportunities to be a blessing in other’s lives.  Help us to be a willing vessel to be used by you to further Your Kingdom.  In Jesus’s name, amen.

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You Are The Shepherd

March 29, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

 Jesus said to him,
I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.


You are the Shepherd, I belong to You
When I walk on rough ground, You will guide me through
You know my name, You know my voice
Before I was born I was Your choice
Show me how to follow, Lord, keep me close to You
You are the Shepherd, I belong to You

Open eyes to see You are the Way
Open ears to hear You are the Truth
Open hearts to know You are the Lord of Life
For every one You hold a special plan

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