Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Eternals

ETERNALS                                                        
Seventh of nine devotions in Incarnation Parallel Bible Study series

Micah 5:2, John 1:1-2

Micah 5:2:  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”

            What’s Ephrathah?  Ephrathah is the region in Judah where Bethlehem was located.  1 Samuel 17:12 says, “Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah.” 

            Eternity is a mind-blowing idea.  Don’t human minds demand that there has to be a beginning?  John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.”  The title of this devotion is Eternals; the “s” includes you!  People were created to live forever.  We choose either to be with God or separated from God eternally.

            The Greek word for “Word” is Logos.  Logos means both the spoken and unspoken word.  The unspoken word is still in one’s mind.  It’s one’s reason, how one thinks.  Yeah, God can “read” minds.  That seems logical, doesn’t it?   God’s Word created all things.  The Word was distinct from the Father. 

            Referring to Jesus as God, John 1:3-4 says, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  Life is Jesus’ gift to whomever receives Him as Lord.  In John 14:6, Jesus says plainly, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” 

            No one comes to God the Father, except who’s called to God the Son first (John 6:44).  Jesus is not the way among many.  Jesus is the ONLY way.  In fact, earliest Christians were called followers of “The Way.”

Take Home Nugget

            The prophet Daniel included Jesus in Daniel 7:13-14, the first time, “son of man” is mentioned in the Bible:  “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped Him.  His dominion is everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” 

            Mark 13:26 parallels with, “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

            Suggested New Year’s resolution: Make sure that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

Jesus, the Word, “hears” even silent prayers. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!


J.D. Griffith
           
  


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