Daily Devotions - Entries tagged "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life"

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Ah the life. Sitting in the sand, toes in the water, a gentle breeze, a cool drink in my hand. Now that’s the life, right? Sounds nice, but something tells me it’s not the life Jesus was talking about in verse 6. He was talking about life in Him. He was talking about following His way, leading people out of darkness by sharing with them the Truth, and helping them discover the way to Life eternal.

Jesus taught us to lead a life of service. Among His last acts before His crucifixion was to wash his disciples’ feet. One of His last instructions was this new commandment, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35, NIV).

And in another of the Gospels, we find this directive by Jesus to His followers, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Paul, following Jesus’ command, was stoned, beaten, jailed, shipwrecked, left for dead, and finally executed -- all while living the Life. Paul lived a big life.

Jesus did not call us to a life of leisure. He called us to a life of living, of doing, of being more than just us. He called us to a life in a broken world, filled with messed-up people who desperately need to be saved from their sin-controlled lives and  who need to be loved. He called us to look after widows and orphans, to give water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, to give the clothes off our backs and to go the extra mile. He called us to serve because we love him and because He commanded us to love one another as He loves us.

Sitting on the beach with my toes in the water sounds pretty perfect for a brief moment, but we have been called to live a bigger life, the life Jesus has given us, a life of service and a life of love.

Father,

You have called me and commanded me to love You with all my heart, to love others as myself and to serve. I want this Father. I want to live a big life. You know the strengths, weaknesses and abilities I have. Help me to find a place where I can serve and love You through my love and service to others. Don’t let fear stand in my way. I love you Father.

Amen

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

⁹Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? ¹⁰Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. ¹¹ Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

¹²“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. ¹³You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

What is the way? Boats, planes, cars and even people are guided today using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. Our GPS devices employ satellite triangulation technology to pinpoint an exact location of where something is on planet Earth. Those directions can help us find the way to get from where we are to where we want to go. And even when we make a wrong turn, or stray off our path, our GPS doesn’t lose sight of our ultimate destination -- and quickly recalculates to get us back on course.

When Jesus declares, “I am the Way,” He is, in one way, like our GPS that shows us how to get from our present location to our ultimate destination -- eternity with Him. When we stray from the way, He provides a recalculated route to get us back onto the path.

Of course, unlike the GPS in your car, the signals Jesus uses to get us back on course come from many sources. They could come from a gentle nudging from the Holy Spirit, or from a Bible verse you have read a thousand times before, but suddenly has new relevance. It could even be a hardship, resulting from our own sin, or an unexpected call from a concerned friend. He is faithful to always help us find our way if we will listen.

Where are you today? If you are not on the way with Jesus, call a friend who is, or talk with one of the prayer team or staff here at the church. Jesus is the Way.

Father,

I, like everyone around me, am a sinner. Every day I fall short of the purpose for which You created me. I love You Father and I am sorry. Thank You for the gift of grace that allows me to go on and start again. Thank You that my future is secure in You.

Amen

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.

⁹Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? ¹⁰Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. ¹¹ Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

¹²“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. ¹³You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Just before Jesus had the conversation we’ve just read, He performed the ultimate act of servanthood and of love by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). He then tells them of His pending betrayal (13:18–30), and even tells Peter that he is going to deny his Lord. Jesus also makes it very clear He will be leaving them soon (vs. 33 and following).

At that point, the disciples are off balance, not sure what all that Jesus is telling them means, not sure what to do or think. Jesus sees their confusion and understands their fears. With the love of a teacher, He begins to reassure them. In John 14:1–4, we read His words of comfort.

“Don’t be afraid,” He says. “You can trust Me.” Then He tells them that He is going ahead to prepare a place for them, and that He will come back for them, and He and assures them that they know the way.

Fear sets in as they understand that Jesus is really going to leave them, and they experience that gut-gripping sensation of loss, uncertainty, and confusion. Thomas verbalizes the question that others were probably thinking, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus responds with those words we know so well: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Many of us have seen life from both sides, as a non-believer and as a believer. Life as a non-believer has little to offer in those times when we are knocked off balance, as Jesus’ disciples were. For them it was a sudden fear that this One, Who they had left all to follow, was about to desert them.

For us today it could be a circumstance like a lost job, a sudden illness, a broken marriage, or another crushing loss that causes us to be gripped with fear. For the person without Christ, there is no hope and no place to turn -- though some try turning to alcohol, drugs and other destructive behavior.

For the believer, these life crises are no less painful. But in Christ we do have hope. Jesus gives us that hope. He is the great I AM. Through prayer, and with the support of His church -- our community of believers -- we are able to look fear and hopelessness in the eye, and say, “There is no place for you in my life. In Jesus name, I have hope. I have the Way.”

Father,

There are so many times I fail, and I have turned away yet You are always faithful, always present, always loving. You are a present help in a time of great darkness. Help me in my darkness to seek out Your light and place my trust and hope in You. You are my only hope.

Amen