Jesus publicly prays to God “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” This is our hope and purpose in life, expressed in heartfelt prayer shortly before Jesus’ betrayal. Even in these last hours of painful anticipation, Jesus was thinking of us. Let us be inspired to know the only true God, to be one with Him, to be part of Jesus’ future kingdom and to bear witness to the truth.
Category Archives: Bible
John 12
Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. The analogy of light and darkness is perfect, since darkness is merely the absence of light, rather than a physical property of itself. Without the gospel, the world remains unilluminated, without hope of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.
We have been given an amazing gift, part of a chosen race, with a responsibility to “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. We are now God’s people, illuminated by His character and glory. It’s up to us to live in a way that shows that light to those around us, that they too may be part of God’s chosen people.
John 11
The story of Lazarus is both confronting and inspirational. Although it caused Jesus intense grief, he delays the healing of Lazarus in order to instead raise him from the dead. Having complete trust in God to protect him and his disciples from harm, Jesus returns to Judea where the Jews had previously sought to stone him, and discovers that Lazarus had already been dead for 4 days.
Both Mary and Martha struggled to understand why Jesus hadn’t returned in time to heal Lazarus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus consoled Martha with the words “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die“.
These words describe our hope also. Let us likewise live in Jesus, demonstrating our belief to those around us, confident that we too can receive the crown of life promised to those who love God, “for He who promised is faithful“.
John 8-9
Jesus is our good shepherd. He has opened our eyes, so that we can understand our natural state and realise there is something better. We are his sheep, if we listen to his voice and follow his guidance. Jesus said of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand”.
Despite what happens in life, we can be sure of Jesus’ love and care for his sheep. We’ve been invited to share the same relationship Jesus has with his father. Let’s allow the example and leadership of Jesus to guide our way of life, that we too may have eternal life.
2 Chronicles 5-6
Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple reminds us that God is always true to His word. God had promised David that David’s son would build a temple for him, and now that temple was complete, “keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.” Solomon also requests that God would hear the prayers of His servants, and forgive them for their sins they acknowledge.
This is the same hope that we’ve been offered. Through Christ, we can seek forgiveness. Through Christ, we can be part of God’s promises. So let us build in our own lives a temple dedicated to serving and praising God, and walk before God with all our heart.
John 6
Jesus describes himself as “the true bread from heaven”. Like the manna in the wilderness, Jesus is the only option that provides life. The choice in the wilderness was clear; collect and eat manna on a daily basis, or die. Jesus is the food that we can consume “that endures to eternal life”, in contrast to the manna that lasted at most two days.
Consuming the spiritual food derived by following Jesus’ example is really our only option. Any other choice leads only to death. “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever”. Let’s make sure we eat this living bread today, tomorrow, and all the days that remain until Jesus returns.
1 Chronicles 28, John 2-3
David’s advice to Solomon is just as applicable to us, “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you…He will not leave you or forsake you”.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows when we are truly trying to serve Him, and like Solomon, will not leave us.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
God has done so much for us, in order that we might be saved. It is up to us to believe Him, and let that belief pervade our every thought and action.
John 1
Jesus is described by John as “the true light”. Those “who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” That true light has shined on us, showing us an example of God’s character perfectly reflected, through the gospel message. It is up to us to believe, to “walk in the light, as [Jesus] is in the light”, knowing that we’ve been called out of darkness and given the chance to be God’s children.
Philippians 3-4
Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven”, that faith is a critical pre-requisite for righteousness, and that we, like Paul, should consider any confidence in the flesh as worthless, choosing instead to become like Christ in his death, that by any means possible we too may “attain the resurrection from the dead.”
We’ve been given a great gift, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding”, which is a cause for rejoicing. We have no need to be anxious for the things of this life, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” It’s up to us to follow Paul’s example, and the God of peace will be with us as He was with Paul.
Galatians 5-6
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”. This is one of Paul’s main points in Galatians. We’ve been set free from slavery to sin, offered an inheritance in the house of God as joint-heirs. “Through love serve one another” is Paul’s guidance for us.
“Let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”. This is how we show our love for God.