The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 12:26,
"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
Jesus said this as a follow-on to his observation that those who indulge themselves with the things of their earthly life ("loves" their earthly life) will lose it, but anyone who subordinates the things of this life ("hates" their earthly life) has eternal life. His point is the subjugation of the pleasures of this life to pursue eternal life. This is done by following what he said in the verse above, we will serve and follow Jesus if we are his.
It appears to me that Jesus is talking about a measurement here. How do we know we have embraced Jesus Christ in faith for certain? Here is a measure of that: we serve Jesus Christ and follow him (to the exclusion of exploiting the pleasures of this life where appropriate.) In his first letter, John observes, "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." 1 John 2:3. In the following verse he says, "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."
We are saved by embracing Jesus Christ in faith and not by doing "good works." However, a changed life helps us recognize we have done so. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ is a subjective thing, and it just may be that we want some assurance from time to time. The way to do that is to look at our lives. Do we live as though we are followers of Jesus Christ? How was that demonstrated during, say, the previous week?
In 1 John 2:29 we read, "If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." Again, it is a measure, a yardstick for our lives to recognize the reality of our faith in Jesus Christ.
We see this also in 1 John 3:10, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister." Again, in 1 John 3:14 we read, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death."
"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
Jesus said this as a follow-on to his observation that those who indulge themselves with the things of their earthly life ("loves" their earthly life) will lose it, but anyone who subordinates the things of this life ("hates" their earthly life) has eternal life. His point is the subjugation of the pleasures of this life to pursue eternal life. This is done by following what he said in the verse above, we will serve and follow Jesus if we are his.
It appears to me that Jesus is talking about a measurement here. How do we know we have embraced Jesus Christ in faith for certain? Here is a measure of that: we serve Jesus Christ and follow him (to the exclusion of exploiting the pleasures of this life where appropriate.) In his first letter, John observes, "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." 1 John 2:3. In the following verse he says, "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."
We are saved by embracing Jesus Christ in faith and not by doing "good works." However, a changed life helps us recognize we have done so. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ is a subjective thing, and it just may be that we want some assurance from time to time. The way to do that is to look at our lives. Do we live as though we are followers of Jesus Christ? How was that demonstrated during, say, the previous week?
In 1 John 2:29 we read, "If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." Again, it is a measure, a yardstick for our lives to recognize the reality of our faith in Jesus Christ.
We see this also in 1 John 3:10, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister." Again, in 1 John 3:14 we read, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death."
Years ago, I counted some 30 plus statements by John in his first letter that tell us how we can know we have embraced Jesus Christ in faith. It really is a good place to go when we may feel we need a little assurance, or, on the other hand, in great need of a wake-up call.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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