Sunday, May 3
Eternal Life
The Scripture for today is also the text for the Sermon in our online worship (Christ4u.net) connected to May 3.
John 10:22-30
22
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,
23
and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,
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but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
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My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30
I and the Father are one.”
This conversation between Jesus and those who questioned his Messiahship is full of applicable truth. Here, in this short devotion, we are going to focus only on the five words at the beginning of verse 28:
“I give them eternal life.”
The coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of life and death to the forefront. It has always been true that every person is mortal and destined to die. But the current crisis has caused this latent reality to move to center stage. For those who follow Jesus Christ, the sad eventuality of death is overcome by the promise of eternal life. “I give them eternal life.”
It is a Gift.
We are dust and to dust we return. Yet the Lord of the universe gives you and me eternal life. It would be impossible to obtain eternal life on our own. What a miraculous gift we have been given.
The gift is Eternal Life.
Eternal Life. Aka: World without end. It is difficult to describe or imagine eternity, but it is not difficult to see that this is what God wants for you and me. Throughout history God has been working to connect us into a relationship with himself. The relationship is characterized by overwhelming love which never, ever, ever ends.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you died and rose again for my salvation. In these days of the pandemic, let me remember that you have already seen beyond these temporary problems. You have made it possible that I will live with you forever. Thank you for this gift. Amen.
