And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
To "make disciples" by teaching them the whole counsel of God is a great responsibility. But Jesus pairs it with a great promise when He says, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age"! The task that God commands us is within the glorious confines of being fully known and loved by Him. This commission follows Christ's death and resurrection, which propels us into the constant presence of God and the assurance of never being alone.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
John 6:37 (ESV)
We must rest in the grace of Christ because He is the One that first chose us. Therefore, we can come to Jesus not only at the time of salvation, but ten-thousand times thereafter. For it is not a perfect resumé that gives us access to the throne of grace. It is simply the very willingness to come to Him. And those who do come will never be cast out (John 6:37). They will only receive the grace-filled, loving embrace of their risen Savior.
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love."
John 15:9 (LSB)
Jesus has paid the price for all the sins of those who believe in Him. He has reconciled God and believers. And because of this work, we can abide in the perfect love of God towards us. No condemnation, no wrath—only His love. His love towards us is patient and kind; it never fails. Jesus promises us that we can abide in this love of God. In this month where the world focuses on man's love, let us focus on and abide in God's love.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 (NIV)
You can be certain that living in this present world will bring all kinds of tribulation. However, you can be equally certain that in Christ, you are offered the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). And nothing can take this peace from you because it is based upon Jesus' victory over the world! Take heart, therefore, and live in the promise of Christ's peace today.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26 (NASB20)
Eternal life is only found in Christ. Martha has just witnessed her brother Lazarus' death and comes to Jesus in her time of distress. Jesus comforts Martha by helping her see that He alone is the Resurrector and Giver of Life. When we are overwhelmed or in a time of distress, we can come to Jesus—secure in the eternal life that is only found in Him. For He is "the resurrection and the life." Take comfort in the One Who conquered death!
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
What makes us burdened and weighed down? It is our sin and the vain, fleshly attempts to make ourselves right with a holy God. Just like Christian in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, we must recognize our burden and our need for rescue. We can cast that burden off at the cross and let it roll away to the empty tomb. By so doing, we trust that Christ instead has borne the guilt and shame for us.
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
John 15:11 (NKJV)
Jesus has given us the one and only thing that guarantees our joy—Himself. He gave us His Word so that we might have indestructible joy in Him. Our joy is not derived from circumstances, but is found in our great High Priest who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, trust in His word, rest in His promises, obey His commands, and your joy will overflow.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (LSB)
Forgiveness of sins—what a beautiful truth we have in Jesus! Though all have sinned, as we approach the Savior confessing our sins, believers are given the precious promise that He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Not some sins—all sins. The perfect blood that Jesus shed is wholly sufficient to cleanse us from every stain. Let us lay the weight and filth of our trespasses at the cross and rest in His forgiveness today.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32 (ESV)
Have you recognized, dear friend, that you were born into the world enslaved to sin and bound for death? Pride and self-righteousness will keep you there. But those who humbly receive and abide in the truth of Jesus—His eternal sonship, substitutionary atonement, and glorious resurrection—will be set free from the bondage of sin and sent forth unto eternal life.
"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."
John 15:26 (NKJV)
The disciples were feeling abandoned at Jesus' departure. They did not grasp the gift they were about to be given—the promised Holy Spirt. This is the Spirit of truth who reveals Christ to us as if He were walking beside us; a Helper enabling us to change from self-centered people to those who put on love for God and others. He promised that God Himself would help us walk by faith, in the fullness of life, bearing witness to the One who came before us.
"In My Father's house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. And you know the way where I am going…I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you."
John 14:2-4, 18 (NASB20)
What a joy it is to have a promise such as this! Jesus Christ, God Himself, is preparing our eternal abode. He is laying the base, constructing the exterior, and designing the interior. We would want no other to be in charge of such a task. For our Savior knows us best—even better than we know ourselves. And so, we eagerly await the day when we get to lay our eyes on Jesus, and on the unique place that Christ has prepared for us.
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
John 15:15 (NIV)
The greatest cure for anxiety and stress comes from walking in the daily realization that Jesus is a friend who holds nothing back. He held nothing back in giving His own life to pay the price for our guilt and shame. And so, He will hold nothing back in overcoming every trial with His perfect peace, wisdom, sovereignty, and love. Since Jesus is not only there when called upon, but indwells His people, we can always trust our never-failing Friend.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
John 10:27-29 (NKJV)
Jesus' promise here is precious and trustworthy. He has given us a tremendous gift—eternal life. But there is another facet of this tremendous gift; those who have been given this gift can never perish. The words in the original Greek translated as "never" is the strongest possible way to express negation. To amplify the sense, once eternal life is given, you can never, ever, in no way possible, perish! Thank you, Jesus!
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