Verse of the Day 9/20

 

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me,even if he dies, will live. ²⁶ Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.Do you believe this?"  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

I had mentioned the other day that our men's Bible study will start a study in John next week.  The book begins with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  Towards the end of the book in chapter 20, John wrote that the book was written "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.. and by believing you may have life in his name."  Today's verses come from the middle of the book and we have one of the foundational "I am" statements, but this one comes with a question at the end of it, "do you believe this?".  It was a question for the disciples, to those whom Jesus preached to, and for us today.  When we read this gospel, whether at the beginning, at the end or sandwiched here in the beginning, the question should continually hit the reader of this book as it is being read - do you believe this?

 

I read the following quote from one of my favorite authors of last century, A.W. Tozer in relation to "I am".  The I Am which is God is underived and self existent; the I am which is man is derived from God and dependent every moment upon His creative fiat for its continued existence.  One is the Creator, high and over all, ancient of days, dwelling in light unapproachable.  The other is a creature, a pensioner of God's bounty and a suppliant before His throne."

 

With our inflated egos, we can become very proud of the I am that is us.  But when we consider the majesty of God, the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we should come to the conclusion that He is the resurrection and the life.  As we read John or any other part of the Bible, may the question come to our minds "do you believe this?".   May the answer be a resounding YES!  If that is our answer we will enjoy "life in His name".

 

We Believe - (Steve Green)

 

We believe in the Father, who created all that is 
And we believe the universe and all therein is His 
As a loving heavenly Father, He yearned to save us all 
To lift us from the fall . . . We believe 

We believe in Jesus the Father's only Son 
Existing uncreated before time had begun 
A sacrifice for sin, He died then rose again 
To ransom sinful men, We believe 

We believe in the spirit who makes believers one 
Our hearts are filled with His presence 
The Comforter has come 
The kingdom unfolds in His plan 
Unhindered by quarrels of man 
His church upheld by His hand . . . We believe 

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

John 11:24-26The Message (MSG)

²⁴ Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time."

^25-26 "You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?"