Verse of the Day 4/9

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 13:1-21

 

Good morning,

Our Pastor Bob's sermon last week was "Make Jesus Famous".  It's not that He is not already famous or that He needs us to make Him famous, but it should be foremost in our hearts that we make an effort to tell others about our Saviour, to praise Him and make His work in our lives known to others.  In the sermon Bob gave the definition of a fan, "an enthusiastic follower".  Having seen the NCAA championship game last week, the stands were full of fans wearing the school colors with painted faces and colored hair making it known to those around them who it was that inspired them.

 

A true fan also knows a lot about his team.  I've always been a big Cubs fan.  As a kid I knew their line up and the batting averages. ERA's , and all the important information about the players.  I would use that information to stick up for, defend, and root for the team.

 

For today's verse we'll go to John chapter 17 where Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers.  In today's verse He gives us a definition of what eternal life is, and is all about.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.  - Amplified Bible

 

Reading the Amplified Bible makes it easy to draw the correlation to "being a fan".  A  fan of Jesus wants to know, perceive, recognize, become more acquainted with, and gain more understanding of His Saviour.  He won't grow tired or become bored with it.  His heart will not crave or miss the things of this world, he will be too busy finding our more, rooting for, and praising the Three in One - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

John MacArthur gives this definition of eternal life as it applies to this verse and John 3:15-16, "It means literally "life of the age to come" and refers, therefore, to resurrection and heavenly existence in perfect glory and holiness.  This life for believers in the Lord Jesus is experienced before heaven is reached.  This "eternal life" is in essence nothing less than participation in the eternal life of the Living Word, Jesus Christ.  It is the life of God in every believer, yet not fully manifest until the resurrection." (Rom. 8:19-23, Philippians 3:20-21).

 

Have you become a "fan" of Jesus?  I'm not talking about something on Facebook, rather in your heart.  Are you learning more about Him and "Making Him Famous" to others in your life?

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
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 17:1-6

 

Jesus Prays for Himself

 

17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,  2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.    NKJV