I Am…
Today was a good rest day. I did find myself a little more tired after about four days straight of some therapy and then my trips up and down the stairs last night in dealing with our water issue. One thing I found is that I can get up and down the stairs better than in the past. I’m at least doing as well as my grandkids when they were two or three. 🙂
It was nice to get in a nap after Debbie and I went out for an early afternoon lunch and before our evening church service. While monitoring energy levels can still be a challenge it is good to see some improvements in the time periods and level of activity that I am able to endure.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Two simple words that are of great significance in the Bible, “I am.” They are important because they point to the self disclosure of God to humanity in a way that is intended to provide insight not only into who God is, but who He is to us.
We see these words first uttered by God to Moses at the burning bush when God says, “….tell the am I am has you to them…” (Gen. 3:14) We see Jesus ask His disciples, “who do me say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-20) After the sharing the “view of the pubic polls” Peter declares, “you are the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
John’s gospel which focuses on the Deity of Christ contains the greatest number of “I am” statements of Jesus. Consider the following:
“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12 Jesus promises that guessing on eternal destiny is not a “walk in the dark.” He alone provides the well marked path to relationship with God and a promised eternity.
“…before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 Jesus asserts His deity and eternal existence. So much so that those who heard it wanted to stone Him, because they knew He was making Himself equal with God.
“I am the door of the sheep….” John 10:7 Jesus used this expression first to draw the contrast to Himself and those who came before that were robbers and didn’t have true concern for the sheep. This is an illustration of protection.
“…I am the door…” John 10:9 In this verse Jesus says that sheep can come in and out and find pasture. In so doing He focuses on the security and the abundance that is available through Him. That is why John 10:10 says, “…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
“…I am the good shepherd…” John 10:11 Shepherds were often hired hands that when danger arose from animals or marauders were quick to flee in protection for their own lives. In contrast to this Jesus said, “….the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
“I am the resurrection and the life….” John 11:25 This was Jesus assertion just before raising Lazarus from the dead. Martha said, “I know my brother will rise in the last day…” Jesus wanted her to know that He is not the One who will be, and it is important for us today to know that He is not the One who was, but He is, “the resurrection and the life.” It defines His eternal being and character.
It is always good for us to remind ourselves who He is and remember that who He is, He is for us.