A Closer Walk With Jesus

Jesus’s Promise

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

John 15:9

Jesus promises to us the same love God has shown him. This promise is of eternal love, not one that is momentary or fleeting. It is certain and true and never ending, even in the darkest moments of our lives. As we embrace and accept this love, we will know of no other place to turn. In return for this eternal gift God asks of us one request–a simple statement to trust and to abide in this love. Not to turn away from God when life gets hard but to have hope, which builds faith that in turn builds trust. For this magnificent gift of God’s love, we only have to turn our hopes, faith, and trust towards Jesus. It is a wonderful gift of freedom for the small price of abiding.

Points of Reflection

· What has been hardest about accepting the love of God through Jesus?

· What does abiding in Jesus’s love mean?

· Why is God’s love so important, and how is it different from the love we receive from others?

Is humankind totally depraved? I don't think so, based on my life's experiences and especially my mom. Learn Biblically why this is true and why the Doctrine of Sin agrees.

Jesus’s Promise

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

John 15:9

Jesus promises to us the same love God has shown him. This promise is of eternal love, not one that is momentary or fleeting. It is certain and true and never ending, even in the darkest moments of our lives. As we embrace and accept this love, we will know of no other place to turn. In return for this eternal gift God asks of us one request–a simple statement to trust and to abide in this love. Not to turn away from God when life gets hard but to have hope, which builds faith that in turn builds trust. For this magnificent gift of God’s love, we only have to turn our hopes, faith, and trust towards Jesus. It is a wonderful gift of freedom for the small price of abiding.

Points of Reflection

· What has been hardest about accepting the love of God through Jesus?

· What does abiding in Jesus’s love mean?

· Why is God’s love so important, and how is it different from the love we receive from others?

Triumphant Song of Confidence

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 27:1

To whom and where else should we turn in times of stress? Surely our friends can help, especially those who are faithful followers. Surely there are well meaning associates who can provide well-intentioned advice. Surely we are blessed to have these people in our lives. The words of God and the ways of God are always more certain and truer. They are not meant solely to please the world. They are from our heavenly source and, like well-crafted arrows, true in their flight. By turning our hopes, dreams, and desires over to God, we build a life that becomes a stronghold. A life resistant to the turmoil that can arise like a pounding storm. In this triumphant stronghold, we can have confidence and assurance that God is with us.

Points of Reflection

· To whom and where do you turn in times of stress?

· How often do you read the Bible to receive the words of God?

· Who is your greatest confidant in life and why?

Jesus is True Reality

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"

John 14:6

If we want to fix what is wrong and help those underserved, it is our uplifting actions that will provide a lasting solution, not toppling statues because of our view of history. By staying riveted to the lessons of Jesus we can make real change.

Through following Jesus, we can be certain of our path and what is a true reality. In the Gospel of John, we get a quote from Jesus that gives us this direction, where it says; Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” A clear and simple message of what should occupy our minds. Not that of pursing frail and fragile human truth, rather a life that focuses on a sacred truth by following Jesus.

This path is very hard to follow. And on many days we will fall short of truly living this way. We will all become desirous of giving our opinions or become overly bothered by the headlines of the day. Jesus asks us to follow him and through this activity, we become much more productive in helping out in an unequal world. Over time we will discover a more soothing path. A path that removes us from what falsely seems permanent to a sacred purpose.

The world is filled with glimmering nuggets that attract us, only to be disappointed when we grab a hold of them. History is filled with them, never satisfying, and always attracting our thoughts. Following Jesus is quite different, all that He said is true and beneficial.

Today, spend time with Jesus and ask for His insight, what seems illusive will become real.