On the surface, this may not seem as striking or outrageous a claim as "I am the bread of life," or "I am the resurrection." Until we consider the immediate context, in which Jesus goes on to say "you are the branches," and anyone who – like a branch in a vine – abides in me will bear much fruit. …
Constant gratitude is the proportionate response of faith to what God has already and permanently given us in Jesus. There is never a time in our day, or an occasion in our life, that the goodness of God in Jesus is not at work in our lives as Christians. When God is not loving us, not receiving …
There is a well-worn and pessimistic saying that the only things that are sure in life are death and taxes. And it certainly is true that life is full of uncertainties. The best of plans can fall apart.Yet, in spite of life's uncertainties, Paul speaks here with great confidence. Why? How? Because …
These are among the most famous words of Jesus, and most influential words in history. And they are not alone, or accidental – not a slip of the tongue on Jesus' part. Six times in John 14:7-11, Jesus makes the claim of oneness with the Father.Jesus was a man who claimed to be God! Not just some …
Death is an inescapable reality, as we all know (though we may not want to think or talk about it).But Jesus reminds us that he is an even more foundational reality than death. Jesus existed before death ever entered the world, he conquered death through his own death, and he will outlive death …
What do you think of when you think of something or someone who is "good"? Jesus is all that, and more!When the New Testament uses this word "good," the concept includes people who do good things, or bear good fruit (Matthew 5:16). But it is also used to describe the quality of a thing (John …
The significance of any door depends on where it leads to -- a mansion or a hut, a plane to take you where you want to go or a prison door to where you don’t want to be!The significance of a door also depends on what it guards you from. Which is more crucial: the door to your pantry, or the front …
What is the darkness in your life today? Perhaps a powerful, prevalent darkness that holds such sway over some area of your life that no light seems to be able to pierce through it.Perhaps a dark circumstance beyond your control? Or, worse still, a darkness you walked into, sure you had found the …
When the Jewish people asked Jesus to give them miraculous food like Moses did, Jesus shockingly replies, "I am the bread of life."The food of which Jesus speaks is – unlike the Jews thought then and many think today – a Person, not a commodity. There is no separating the benefit of Jesus from the …
This word "follow" is powerful. Listen to the robust, vigorous, forceful ways it is elsewhere translated: "pursue, persecute, chase, hunt." Mercy is not just tagging along for the ride, somewhere back there in the rear-view mirror of your life. Heaven is hounding you with goodness!Grace shall …