John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Jesus is trying to explain to his disciples what is about to happen to him and why it is happening. He tells them that he soon will be returning to the Father and things are about to get very difficult for them. He encourages them by saying that even though they may experience trouble, he has overcome the world.
Our lives can be difficult sometimes. More than difficult, I find my life to be very complicated. We deal with pain, suffering, and loss. We see things like poverty, war, and famine. And to make it worse, we have the questions of why and how. Jesus acknowledges that life will be tough for his followers. But at the end of the day, he has overcome the world and we can find hope in those words. We can have hope that we too will overcome the world.
Dear Jesus, help us persevere and one day overcome the world. Amen.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Jesus Stare
Hebrews 12:2 "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."
The writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, meaning that we need to continually live our lives under his rule and reign. He then says that our faith depends upon this. In fact, our whole faith, from start to finish, depends upon this.
Some people tend to think that we believe in Jesus, get saved, and then we just have to be nice people and sit around and wait until he comes again to bring us to heaven. I think the gospel of Jesus is much bigger than this. We need to live under the rule and reign of Jesus from beginning to end. Jesus doesn't just get us saved and then the rest is up to us; as if following Jesus and truly being a disciple were extra credit. We must daily, from here on out, keep our eyes fixed on him and his kingdom.
Dear Jesus, keep my eyes on you. Amen.
The writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, meaning that we need to continually live our lives under his rule and reign. He then says that our faith depends upon this. In fact, our whole faith, from start to finish, depends upon this.
Some people tend to think that we believe in Jesus, get saved, and then we just have to be nice people and sit around and wait until he comes again to bring us to heaven. I think the gospel of Jesus is much bigger than this. We need to live under the rule and reign of Jesus from beginning to end. Jesus doesn't just get us saved and then the rest is up to us; as if following Jesus and truly being a disciple were extra credit. We must daily, from here on out, keep our eyes fixed on him and his kingdom.
Dear Jesus, keep my eyes on you. Amen.
Friday, August 21, 2009
That's Some Good Blood
Hebrews 9:14 "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God"
The writer of Hebrews is explaining the purpose of the original temple and sacrificial system and how Christ and his sacrifice is so much superior. The author makes the case that the original system was temporary and could not ever completely atone for a man's sins. The blood of goats could only do so much. The blood of Jesus was complete and fulfilled the former system.
I love Hebrews! I love how it explains so much and puts into context the difficult traditions and customs of the Hebrews. And I am so glad Jesus' sacrifice was a perfect sacrifice and has completely redeemed me and atoned for my sins. Because of Christ I have a clean conscience and can have a relationship with God and can live in and serve his kingdom.
Dear Jesus, remind me each day of your love and sacrifice. Thank you. Amen.
The writer of Hebrews is explaining the purpose of the original temple and sacrificial system and how Christ and his sacrifice is so much superior. The author makes the case that the original system was temporary and could not ever completely atone for a man's sins. The blood of goats could only do so much. The blood of Jesus was complete and fulfilled the former system.
I love Hebrews! I love how it explains so much and puts into context the difficult traditions and customs of the Hebrews. And I am so glad Jesus' sacrifice was a perfect sacrifice and has completely redeemed me and atoned for my sins. Because of Christ I have a clean conscience and can have a relationship with God and can live in and serve his kingdom.
Dear Jesus, remind me each day of your love and sacrifice. Thank you. Amen.
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