"And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9 NASB)Confess before men" is a phrase that, in Greek, means to say the same the same things about Jesus that He says about Himself. In this series, we have reviewed the I AM's, including I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Light of the World, I AM the Door, I AM the Good Shepherd (pasture), I AM the Good Shepherd, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, and I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (the way).
We return to the passage in John to consider it in more detail.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6 NASB
The word translated as "truth" is alētheia and indicates truth in all matters, including the certainty of fulfillment. If Jesus is the truth (and He is), then every word He said is true. Every prophecy will be fulfilled; every promise can be claimed with certainty.
zōē is the word translated as "life". This word is rich and filled with such depth of meaning that it deserves a closer look. Blue Letter Bible defines this word as "life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God..." This "life" is not a boring life of stone walls, dim light, and rote chants. This "life" is vibrant, active, alive. It's exciting, with new adventure around every corner and the hope of eternity in the future, where it will be even more wonderful.
Jesus was many things, but he was never boring. If our lives are boring, we're missing something vital in our Christian walk. What Jesus came to give us was LIFE and He intended for it to be abundant, fulfilling, and productive. Is that the kind of life we're living? If not, why not?
Our Lord intends life to be more than 9-5 work and a few hours of television every evening until we fall asleep on the couch. He intended us to make a difference in the kingdom of God. In what ways are we making an investment in the kingdom of God? In what ways are we spending our time for Him? How are we using our gifts for the body of Christ?
One of the exciting things we will enjoy in eternity is seeing the spiritual fruit of the seeds we have sown in this world. We won't enjoy it though, if we have planted no seeds. Let's be sure we're making a difference in this world with the life Christ has given us. Plant seeds. Make a difference. Change the world.
He is the life, our life, and it's very exciting... IF we live it the way He intended.
Jesus was many things, but he was never boring. If our lives are boring, we're missing something vital in our Christian walk. What Jesus came to give us was LIFE and He intended for it to be abundant, fulfilling, and productive. Is that the kind of life we're living? If not, why not?
Our Lord intends life to be more than 9-5 work and a few hours of television every evening until we fall asleep on the couch. He intended us to make a difference in the kingdom of God. In what ways are we making an investment in the kingdom of God? In what ways are we spending our time for Him? How are we using our gifts for the body of Christ?
One of the exciting things we will enjoy in eternity is seeing the spiritual fruit of the seeds we have sown in this world. We won't enjoy it though, if we have planted no seeds. Let's be sure we're making a difference in this world with the life Christ has given us. Plant seeds. Make a difference. Change the world.
He is the life, our life, and it's very exciting... IF we live it the way He intended.
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Our Father, I give you the life I'm living now and ask You to give me Your abundant life. Help me to sow seeds for You, to make a difference in the world. Help me to see Your hand at work around me and to join in with what You are doing. Help me to live abundantly. in Jesus name, Amen.
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