Verse of the Day 5/19

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 25-1 Chronicles 2, John 7:53-8:11   Good morning, You've probably heard someone, a pastor or an evangelist, say "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you".  This is true, but it does not mean that life as a Christian is going to be easy.   Many people followed Jesus when He was performing miracles like feeding the five thousand, healing lepers and blind people, and doing other wonderful things.  But as He taught in John 6, He also taught some very hard things and instructed people that "they must consider the cost" (Matt.8, Mark 9) of following Him.  Many, for various reasons, turned away from Him after hearing some of the "hard sayings" (v.60).   As a Christian there will be times where we face hard teachings, in God's Word, and in lifes circumstances and we must make a similar choice.  To follow the Son of God or to turn away.  May we respond like Peter.   John 6:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  In the darkest hours of my life, in the day's after our son Jeff's accident which left him permanently disabled with a brain injury, this thought, this verse, came to me as I came to a bend in the road on the winding road which led to our home.   The world didn't have anything to offer, no solutions and more importantly, no hope (which was the opinion of many doctors).  In Christ, we found our only hope.   Today's verse comes from 1 John 5, it tells how we know where to turn, Who to follow.  That choice to continue to follow isn't in our power, it comes from an understanding that He has given us that we may know that He has "the Words of eternal life".   1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.    NKJV What does it mean to you to know Him, to be "in Him"?  What other verses and passages come to your mind?   In Christ, Mike   John 6:60-7:1 Many Disciples Turn Away 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?  62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?  63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  64 But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."    NKJV