2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22 ESV, John 5:24-47 ESV, Psalm 106:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 14:30-31 ESV
Daily Verse: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24 ESV)
AMEN (281): “Transliterated from Hebrew into both Greek and English. The Lord Jesus often used “Amen,” translated “verily,” to introduce new revelations of the mind of God. In John’s Gospel, it is always repeated, “Amen, Amen,” but not elsewhere. Luke does not use it at all.[i]
New Revelations.
When people have “aha” moments, they realize something new. What you didn’t understand before becomes crystal clear. Like the fog lifting, sunlight burns off the watery mist, revealing hidden secrets.
Because of Jesus, I can see how jealousy impacted my life and relationships. Instead of gratitude for what I had, I envied others. As a result, I distanced myself from people, not wanting to hear about their lives because envy consumed me. Now, some of those friends no longer live on earth. My jealousy caused me to miss out on the relationship altogether.
Death to life.
Embracing Jesus means passing from death into life. Instead of judging me for my jealousy, Jesus revealed it to me. By seeing the issue, I can deal with it. When I feel jealousy rearing its ugly head, I combat it by celebrating the other person instead, realizing I have all I need. Jesus’ love and compassion brought new life to my heart.
Allowing Jesus into your heart will illuminate dark areas. As I look back over my life, I recognize my self-absorption and how often I put my needs above anyone else’s, including Jesus. But with Christ, I can leave the old ways behind, striving to become more like Him. Each day, a new opportunity to try again, leaving yesterday’s mistakes behind, striving for what lies ahead.
Listen to Jesus’ words. Life eternal begins today. Experience the peace that surpasses all understanding as you allow God to examine your heart, illuminating the areas that keep you from living life to the fullest. Let go of the past and embrace the future God has for you.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 17) Thomas Nelson
