Devotion John 16:28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am going to leave the world and go to the Father.” 

While  Jesus became a human when He was born, the Bible tells us that He has existed eternally.  The Bible tells us He was present at Creation when John says "in the beginning was the Word."  Jesus tells us that same thing when He says, "Before Abraham was," I am.  

Our text also says that after Jesus rose from the dead, He left the world and went to the Father.  So He always was in the past, and He will also be in the future.  But what about now?  Where is He now?  

Jesus tells us, "I am with you always."  We have  a hard time understanding that.  How could Jesus be with us in our devotion this morning and also with our parents at their work or at home.  Some churches even say Jesus wasn't talking about really being with us.

But He is, as surly as He was with the disciples the day He rose from the dead.  The Bible says that he "appeared" to them.  He clearly was already there, He just wanted THEM to know He was there.  So he appeared to them.  As soon as they knew He was there, He veiled Himself from them again.  

As long as we remember we are never alone, and that Jesus is with us, we can have the same comfort the disciples had.  Jesus who loves us in spite of our sins, died for them, and rose to show he had conquered death for us is with us also.  We can boldly go forward knowing that Jesus is always behind us, in front of us, and most importantly, by our side no matter what happens.

Monday, February 12, 2024

1 John 4:2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.

Verified by God

According to one estimate, 70 million dollars in counterfeit bills are circulating in our country. Is the $10 bill in your wallet or purse real? How do you know? It’s fairly easy to determine. The Treasury Department designed genuine bills with certain features to verify their authenticity. Does your $10 bill have a watermark, color-changing ink, a security thread, and micro-printing? If it has them all, you can trust it’s genuine and that it can be used on your next shopping trip.

Far more harmful than counterfeit money is false teaching about God and salvation that is passed off as real. It can look and sound convincing. It may attract hundreds or thousands of followers, either in-person or on social media. Those who teach it may be personable and sincere. Yet if it’s not God’s truth, it leaves people spiritually bankrupt. John wrote, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

How can you spot the counterfeit? John continues, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2). There are many teachings in the Bible. All are important and all are intended to serve in revealing Jesus as the Son of God who became man while remaining true God. He took on our flesh and blood in order that He might be the perfectly obedient person we are not. He put Himself under God’s law that He might suffer the full penalty for our breaking of that law. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Father Himself verified Jesus’ authenticity when He said at Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved Son” (Luke 3:22). That’s genuine spiritual currency which is worth more than all the money in the world. In everything that we hear and read, may we watch out for the counterfeit and treasure the real thing.

John 1:1-14

Christ, the Word, Becomes Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made. 4 In him was[a] life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[b] it.

6 There was a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as an eyewitness to testify about the light so that everyone would believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.

9 The real light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, yet his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They were born, not of blood, or of the desire of the flesh, or of a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and dwelled[c] among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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Footnotes

1. John 1:4 Some witnesses to the text read is. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)

2. John 1:5 Or grasped

3. John 1:14 Literally tented

John 8 

Before Abraham was, I Am.

52 So the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets. Yet you say, ‘If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never taste death.’ 53 You are not greater than our father, Abraham, are you? He died. And the prophets died. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet you do not really know him, but I do know him. If I said, ‘I do not know him,’ I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I hold on to his word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he would see my day. He saw it and rejoiced.”

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t even fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and left the temple area.[b]

Footnotes

1. John 8:59 Some witnesses to the text add He went through the middle of them and so went on his way. See Luke 4:30.

Questions.