Do you remember a time when you were waiting and not sure what the outcome would be in a situation you were facing? The Bible is filled with accounts of people facing uncertainty. One of these moments occurred when Jesus and his disciples gathered to celebrate the Passover Meal. It was a night of celebration that quickly turned into a night of uncertainty and then fear as Jesus was arrested before his crucifixion.

The celebratory meal took a turn as Jesus began talking about what was about to happen (see John 13). It was a heavy discussion, and Jesus himself was troubled (see John 13:21). But in chapter 14 Jesus began by encouraging the disciples, saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1a).

Whatever you might be going through today, Jesus knows, because he experienced it. He experienced loneliness, grief, betrayal, and being misunderstood. And he says to you as he said to his disciples, “let your hearts be troubled.”

What Jesus said next is the reason we can overcome these trials: “Believe in God; believe also in me” John 14:1b. Jesus continued to teach his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for us and that he is coming back again (see John 14:2-3). There is so much more than the trials of this life, so much more!

Then Jesus made this powerful declaration, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

Jesus made three self-identifying statements to his disciples that give us comfort today.

Jesus is the Way

Sadly today, many people are on the wrong path, and the result is eternal suffering andseparation from God (see Proverbs 14:12). Jesus doesn’t simply point out the way; he is the way!

Our pride tempts us to follow our own way. Our schedules are overwhelming and we make rash life choices that lead to pain. But Jesus offers us a much better way (see Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus says, “if you’re worn out, burned out, and you don’t seem to be seeing any breakthrough, come and join me because I am the way” (my paraphrase).

Jesus is the way for struggling marriages, those battling addictions, those with chronic illness, and for every challenge of life. Jesus promises peace in times of uncertainty.

Are you living a life that follows Jesus as the Way? Or are you making your own way and hoping for the best?

Jesus is the Truth

We are inundated with lies within and without. Culture tries to convince us that truth is relative. The news media, AI, and social media are constantly bombarding us with blatant lies. But there is only one person with whom we will have perfect peace (see Isaiah 26:3). What is your mind fixed on? What consumes your mind? There is no shortage of things to consume our mind: politics, finances, health or even the Middle East (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).

But how do we do this? By daily adjusting our thinking and aligning our thoughts with the Word of God (see Philippians 4:8). This is where we will find peace.

Nothing changes until we face the truth. And the truth isn’t an opinion; truth is a person, and his name is Jesus. As we develop a personal relationship with Jesus, we discover the way to God and the truth of God that puts our entire existence into perspective.

As Christians, we are to be a people of the truth. Not just people who believe the truth, but we need to be people who are so indwelt with the presence of Jesus that it does not even occur to us to misrepresent ourselves or to tell a lie (see Ephesians 4:25).

Are you allowing Jesus and his truth to indwell you every moment of every day, or are you swept away by the lies of the world, the enemy, and yourself?

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https://gpchurch.us/

Last week we celebrated Valentines Day, a day for the celebration of love. However, our capacity to love is tainted by our sinful nature; every human emotion suffers the effect of sin.

As we have been looking at the emotions of Jesus, his love is pure and untainted by any sin. His love is perfect, yet he commands us to love the same way as he loves (See John 13:34-35). Can we love like Jesus? Jesus displayed selfless and sacrificial love. Where does love come from?

God Is Love
This is a fundamental statement about the nature of God; thus, the essential nature of Jesus is love. Satan will constantly attempt to twist the understanding of the nature of Jesus.

The Bible says, “God is love”, the world says, “Love is love.” With the notion that love is something that we possess and define, ignoring the pure and essential nature of God as being the source of love. In John 14:7, we read, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” Real, authentic love has its source in God. And loving others with this God-fueled love gives evidence that we have been born of God, we have been born again.

This is not only loving people who love us, but also those who are hurting us, annoy us, and even our enemies. This is the supernatural love of God because this is what He displayed on our behalf. Love is a fundamental aspect of God’s nature. All that he does is ultimately loving. God does have wrath, but He is love.

Dane Ortlund writes this, “For God to cease to love His own, God would need to cease to exist, because God does not simply have love; He is love.”

John 14:8 challenges us, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” We simply cannot love our enemies without the love of God empowering us to love. And the great news of the Gospel is that God made the first move, simply because we are not capable of loving this way. “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” John 14:9.

You Are Loved
God loves us so much that He sent His only son to free us from the bondage of sin and the penalty of separation from God. Jesus was sent by the Father as the spotless lamb to be sacrificed to atone for our sins. Jesus walked into enemy territory to rescue sinners like us. We were not looking for God; he is reaching towards us. God took the initiative. God sent His Son to die (see Romans 5:8). Christian love is based on this. It is not simply excusing sin or allowing someone to do whatever they want. Christian love is standing in the gap; it is in the shape of a cross.

Do you know how much Jesus loves you? The love that Jesus has for you now is the same love that compelled Jesus to go to the cross. Knowing that we are fully and perfectly loved by the creator of the universe changes the way we respond to life’s situations and how we make choices.

Knowing that Jesus loves me…

...Enables me to Love Others Well.
As we are in Christ, living by the power of His Spirit, then the supernatural love of God flows through us for the world to see. Displaying love is practical; it is action and costs us something, but this is the normal Christian life (see Romans 5:5).

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