Jesus IS!

Daily Reading: John 8

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8.58)

Devotional Thought: In John 8, Jesus continues to confront those who refuse to believe him – and those whose belief only goes so far.  Even “to the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (v. 31).  Here he was indicating that faith is not just having a convenient belief in Jesus when it suits your fancy.  Faith in Jesus means holding to – following completely and vigorously – his teaching.  There would be no ‘as long as it fits my schedule, fair-weather disciples’ among Jesus’ followers!  It was all or nothing!  That, of course, angered his foes and his half-hearted friends alike!  As these groups pressed Jesus, he made an interesting claim which angered them but serves as a great encouragement to us who have staked our eternal destinies upon him: “Before Abraham was born, I am!”

Think about it, dear friend!  Before Abraham was, Jesus was!  Before Noah was, Jesus was!  Even before Adam was, Jesus was!  This Lord you serve pre-dates all humanity, all history, all creation!  Jesus is the eternal Son of God! 

·       Before cancer was, Jesus is!

·       Before death was, Jesus is!

·       Before unemployment was, Jesus is!

·       Before desertion was, Jesus is!

·       Before persecution was, Jesus is!

·       Before misunderstanding was, Jesus is!

·       Before rejection was, Jesus is!

Praise God, whatever we are going through, no matter the burdens we carry and mountains we must climb, before any tear ever flowed down our cheek – JESUS IS!

Prayer: Lord, we love Your timeless nature!  It gives us hope for our future.  No matter what we face, we can have confidence in the knowledge that before it was, You ARE!

Psalm of the Day: 35.9-17

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?"

11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.

12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.

13 But I, when they were sick-- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;

16 like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.

17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!