Children of God
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, The fifty days between My resurrection and Pentecost were important. I appeared to My closest disciples on several occasions, and I appeared to many others during the first forty days before My return to the Father’s side (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). During the ten days after My ascension, My disciples prayed and waited in Jerusalem for the coming of power just as I had told them to do (Acts 1:4). Their growing realization of Who I AM and what this means for all people was preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit would empower them to be My witnesses to the ends of their world. One of the most important realizations and revelations they experienced was what My death, burial, and resurrection actually meant. The implications of these great events were important for them and also for those who did not yet believe. I had opened a way for people — all people who came to true faith — to become children of God, born “not by human power or initiative but by God’s will.” You are God’s children and My brothers and sisters through faith. When you confessed Me before other people, were baptized calling on My name, and received Me into your life, you trusted in what I have done for you to save you. You were figuratively given a new set of holy garments — you “clothed yourselves with Christ.” You were reborn by the will and the power of the Father. You were filled with the Holy Spirit, Who now lives in you. This promise is true for all peoples (Acts 2:36-42). It is not confined to one race, one gender, or one social class. If you belong to Me, then all of the Father’s incredible promises to Abraham are yours as a spiritual child of Abraham and as a child of God through your faith (Galatians 3:26-29)! Verses to Live It would take a long time for My first followers to grasp the incredible power and the Father’s great and marvelous promises available to all whose lives are joined with Mine through their conversion. These promises are still true for you. These promises are still true for all whom God will call. These promises are even true for those whom the Father uses — you, and others like you, to reach out with the good news of His grace given through Me. Being a child of the Father is not determined by race or gender or social class; it is determined by grace received through faith in My death and resurrection and experienced in immersion and through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, in Whom you were sealed for redemption (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30). The true Light [Jesus], Who shines upon the heart of everyone, was coming into the cosmos. He entered our world, a world He made; yet the world did not recognize Him. Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him. But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will. (John 1:9-13) So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 NIV) Response in Prayer Father in heaven, hallowed be Your glorious and powerful Name. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth just as it is in heaven as I offer myself to live for Your kingdom. Please give us today the bread we need to sustain us. Please do not let us be taken captive by the powers of temptation, whether tempted from within by our own desires or from without through the scheming of the evil one. In fact, dear Father, I ask that You deliver us from the power of the evil one. As Your child, I pray this prayer for myself and all who are a part of Your family. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 4:14
We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. —1 Thessalonians 4:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As horrible as the Cross was, it wasn’t the final chapter of the Jesus’ story. Jesus died and then rose again. We can believe two things because of Jesus’ resurrection: That Jesus will return in glorious victory for those who have believed in him. That we will be with those we love who have fallen asleep in Christ when Jesus comes again and brings resurrection and reunion. These two truths allow us, dear friends in Jesus, to have confident hope for our future no matter where we find ourselves or what our present circumstances may be. My Prayer… Holy and Almighty Father, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead and assuring us of eternal life with you and with those we love who have already passed from this life into the presence of Jesus. We look forward to the day Jesus returns in glory with the angels of heaven, bringing us complete victory over death and reunion with Jesus and all who have believed in him. Thank you, dear Father, for the victory we have in Jesus. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Son of God with Power
Note from Jesus Dear Friend, There are many voices that call out to you and seek to win your heart. There are many distractions in your busy and high-tech culture that can dilute your focus and make you forget your mission. So today, I want My message to you to be clear: My resurrection from the dead changed everything! You’ve heard Me say that to you in previous notes, but today I want to come back to this important theme. I AM Who I AM for all eternity. I AM “the One Who is, the One Who was, and the One Who is coming” (Revelation 1:4-8; Revelation 22:13). As the great I AM, We — God as Father, Spirit, and Son — announced Our identity to Moses when We called him to lead Our people to freedom (Exodus 3:1-15). I AM Who I AM for all eternity. I announced this to My people facing hardship, unfaithfulness, apostasy, and persecution around the end of the first century. I called them to holy living and to be My faithful witnesses even if it cost them their lives (Revelation 21:6-8). I AM Who I AM for all eternity. I announced this to My disciples repeatedly. John records My “I AM” statements in his gospel: I AM — the bread that gives life (John 6:35), the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:41), the living bread (John 6:51), the light that shines through the cosmos (John 8:12), the gate of the sheep (John 10:7-9), the good shepherd (John 10:11-14), the resurrection and the source of all life (John 11:25), the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6 NIV), and the true vine (John 15:1-5). I share these truths with you because there is nothing I needed to do to earn My position and place as Lord. I became human flesh to show Satan, the world of demons, and the power structures corrupted by humans that I AM Who I AM for all eternity. I suffered the gross indignities of an illegal trial, physical abuse, and death on a cross to triumph over death and Satan through My resurrection from the dead. The apostle Paul recognized this sacrifice and triumph as validation of every holy and righteous claim made about Me. Paul had been an unbeliever — one who even considered Me to be a blasphemer. But his discovery of My resurrection convicted him of My true identity. He recognized Me as Jesus, the Anointed (the Christ and Messiah), and the one true Lord. He declared that I AM “ultimately designated to be the true Son of God with power upon His [My] resurrection from the dead by the Spirit of holiness.” Paul’s life was changed by this astounding revelation of My identity. He spoke of it this way: But God — Who set me apart even before birth and called me by His grace — chose, to His great delight, to reveal His Son in me so I could tell His story among the outsider nations. (Galatians 1:15-16) I want this realization of My identity, this revelation of Who I AM and what I was willing to do for you, to be the reason for your changed life as well! Verses to Live Paul’s call to live for Me and find the mission of his life in sharing the message of My grace emanated from My being revealed to him — see his declaration of this in the verses below. And now, dear friend, remember that I call you to recognize Me for Who I have always been and forever will be, to respond with your commitment to be a living witness to My grace in your life, and to share that grace with others who do not know Me. Your call may not take you all over the world like Paul. However, it will most certainly shape the way you live and interact with those around you. Think about all of this as you read of Paul’s testimony about his call, a call rooted in My resurrection from the dead. Paul, a servant of Jesus the Anointed called by God to be His emissary and appointed to tell the good news of the things promised long ago by God, spoken by prophets, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. All of this good news is about His Son: Who was (from a human perspective) born of David’s royal line and ultimately designated to be the true Son of God with power upon His resurrection from the dead by the Spirit of holiness. I am speaking of Jesus, the Anointed One, our Lord. And here’s what He’s done: He has graced us and sanctioned us as His emissaries whose mission is to spread the one true and obedient faith to all people in the name of Jesus. This includes you: you have been called by Jesus, God’s Anointed. (Romans 1:1-6) Response in Prayer Almighty God, the Eternal, the great I AM, please help me understand my call to testify to the grace of Jesus. Open my eyes to the ways I can lovingly and gently influence and lead others to know Jesus and His grace. I claim the promise of Jesus that the Holy Spirit will give me words to say and strength to say them in ways that are effective. I ask for this grace and for the ability to fully discern Your call in My life, in Jesus’ name. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I don’t know about you, but I know I’ve grown soft and spoiled because of all the conveniences I have allowed into my life. If these conveniences were to vanish suddenly, could I, would I, honor God with my praises and thanksgiving? I sure hope so. I am committed to doing so. I want to be like Paul and live with the assurance that I can withstand any situation with the help of Christ Jesus — even if it is imprisonment and the abandonment of friends as Paul was facing. My Prayer… O God, my strength would fade without you, and my confidence would fail. Thankfully, I will never have to worry about this because your grace, your Spirit, and your Son. These strengthen me and help me weather any storm. I believe you will never abandon me. Thank you, in Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
No Matter What!
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, I do not promise you that following Me will be easy. Some of My greatest and most faithful servants faced severe testing, hardship, and even martyrdom. That is still true in your day. You are asked to live with the character and compassion of the Father in a world that doesn’t appreciate those values. So when times of testing and hardship come, I want you to remember today’s promises — they are highlighted in the verses below, but I want to emphasize them so you will remember them: Nothing can separate you from My love for you — nothing, not even death! I have destroyed the power of death. It cannot hold you. I have brought you life and immortality through My resurrection from the dead and your faith in My resurrection! As I told you yesterday, I endured all of the shame and pain of the cross so that you could know the Father’s love and know I love you and will NEVER betray, deny, or abandon you. I AM alive forever… for you! Verses to Live Carefully read these words from Paul. He lived a life of absolute passion and courage because he believed the promises he shared. These promises are true and will always be true for you! As you read these words, remember that Paul lived through extreme trials and hardships (2 Corinthians 11:24-30) because he personally trusted in the words he shared. The second set of verses below comes from Paul as he was actually awaiting martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:6-8; Acts 20:22-24). His faith was undimmed. His heart was as passionate for Me and the gospel as when he began his ministry. So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God’s Anointed [Jesus]? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. As the psalm says, On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly; we are like sheep awaiting slaughter. But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him Who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37) Don’t be embarrassed to testify about our Lord or for me, His prisoner. Join us in suffering for the good news by the strength and power of God. God has already saved us and called us to this holy calling — not because of any good works we may have done, but because of His own intention and because eons and eons ago (before time itself existed), He gave us this grace in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King. And now, the time has come! That grace was revealed when our Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appeared; and through His resurrection He has wiped out death and brought to light life and immortality by way of this good news. (2 Timothy 1:8-10) Response in Prayer Lord Jesus, today I not only thank the Father, I also thank You. I thank You for Your promised presence in my life. I thank you for being at the Father’s side as my advocate to intercede for me. I thank You for the price You paid to experience my world in human flesh. I thank You, Lord Jesus, for all You have done and all you do for me and all who have an undying love for You. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Absolutely Nothing!
Note from Jesus Dear Faithful Follower, One of David’s most beautiful praise songs, (Psalm 139:1-24), speaks of the abiding presence of your Father in heaven with His children — with you. He knows you inside and out. He knows your thoughts from afar. He knew you when you were unseen and unfelt in your mother’s womb. From your conception, He had a plan for your life and a purpose for your time on earth. There is no place that you can go that the presence of your loving Father will not be with you to sustain you as His beloved child. This great psalm has comforted believers for centuries. I hope you will read it several times today and be reminded of how much you are loved by Us — Father, Son, and Spirit. The apostle Paul also has a chapter in his letter to My followers in Rome that speaks about Our presence in your life through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-39). The language that Paul uses is complementary to the language of David, and it is equally as beautiful and reassuring. Here are some of the statements of assurance that Paul gives you in the verses below. He writes these things to help you live as a true child of the Father while you live in a broken world longing for your ultimate redemption: There is no need to fear because We — Father, Son, and Spirit — are on your side in all of your battles. The Father longs to bless you with everything you need to be My disciple, to conform you to My example, and to bring you into My inheritance. The Father has declared you “not guilty” so that no one can bring a meaningful charge against you. No matter what happens, you will share in My victory. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can come between you and the love that We have for you. The Father has revealed this love to you and given you assurance of it through what I did to save you. “But no matter what comes,” Paul says in the conclusion to all these promises, you “will always taste victory through Him [the Father] Who loved us. For I have every confidence that nothing… can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord.” How can you know this is true? How can you trust in these great promises? I provided the assurance you need to answer these questions by becoming flesh, facing temptation, dealing with the fickleness and unfaithfulness of friends, facing persecution and ridicule, dying as a criminal would die, and being raised victoriously from death. I came to your world and faced your life’s struggles so that you could know I understand them. That understanding isn’t just based on My being God. My understanding involves being mortal and vulnerable so that through death I could conquer the power of sin, death, and hell. I did all of this so you could know that there is not a place I will not go to redeem you, reclaim you, and restore you to My presence. And I sent you the Spirit as a guarantee of these promises to you (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Verses to Live The message I want you to hear today is simple, yet profound. You are loved by Us — Father, Son, and Spirit. We will never abandon you. No one and nothing can separate you from Our love. So be confident in the Father’s love, My commitment to helping you, and the Holy Spirit’s presence within you. The apostle Paul spoke the same way about this to you. I want you to believe it! There is absolutely no one and absolutely nothing that can separate you from Our love for you! So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him? Can anyone be so bold as to level a charge against God’s chosen? Especially since God’s “not guilty” verdict is already declared. Who has the authority to condemn? Jesus the Anointed Who died, but more importantly, conquered death when He was raised to sit at the right hand of God where He pleads on our behalf. So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God’s Anointed? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. As the psalm says, On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly; we are like sheep awaiting slaughter. But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him Who loved us. For I have every confidence that nothing — not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing — can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39) Response in Prayer O Father of grace, in Your mercy You have repeatedly demonstrated Your love for me. I trust that You are near me no matter what happens in my life or how I feel at the moment. I thank You for the empowering presence of Your Holy Spirit to heal, renew, and abide within me. I pray for strength to believe the truths I have heard from Your word — to believe not just in the good and easy times, but also in the hardest and most trying moments of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reason to Celebrate
Note from Jesus Dear Precious One, In the face of life’s irritations, what is your source of joy? In the middle of life’s biggest heartaches and wounds, what is your reason for hope? In the moments of life’s greatest blessings, what multiplies and deepens your joy in anticipation of a joy even greater than you can describe? Peter reminds you in the verses below that your faith in My resurrection gives you “a joy that is glorious and beyond words,” a reason to “celebrate” and rejoice now as you anticipate a richer life, and an even greater joy that I have waiting for you since “you are receiving the salvation” of your soul! This salvation has begun, but even greater experiences and realities of this salvation lie on the horizon. So in the most joyous moments of your life, remember that even greater joy is ahead. In your painful and most trying days, remember that a far better future lies ahead. In the everyday routine — no matter how filled with monotony or great blessings or deep sorrow — celebrate that you are caught up in the marvelous and astounding future promised in My resurrection from the dead. Life and joy are yours, both now and forevermore! Verses to Live As you read these verses one more time, focus on the future joy that is promised. Notice especially the words “celebrate,” “glorious,” “greatly rejoice,” and “beyond words.” These words are used to describe the “joy” that is yours because of your faith in My resurrection that assures your salvation both now and throughout eternity! Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope — reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last. Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:3-9) Response in Prayer Loving Father, open my eyes to the joy available to me because of the future ahead of me and the salvation You have given to me in Jesus, in Whose name I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Inheritance!
Note from Jesus Dear Child of the Father, Yes, you are a child of God! Doesn’t that sound incredible? The Father in heaven, the Eternal, the Almighty, the Creator is your Father. I AM your older Brother. I shared your world of flesh and blood, so I could intercede for you (Hebrews 2:14-18) and so I could share My inheritance with you (Romans 8:17)! Read what Paul wrote to the Roman Christians: If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His [God’s] children. You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy. Through that prayer, God’s Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children. If we are God’s children, that means we are His heirs along with the Anointed, set to inherit everything that is His. If we share His sufferings, we know that we will ultimately share in His glory. Now I’m sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:14-18) Similar things are said in other passages in your New Testament (Ephesians 1:13-14; Colossians 1:10-12; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 9:15). Take the time to read these additional passages. These scriptures champion the authenticity of your inheritance. They remind you that you are a co-heir with Me of all the Father’s blessings. Many people hope for a rich uncle or aunt or friend to leave them a lot of money when that loved one dies. Here’s an incredible truth for you: your inheritance — riches that won’t decay, can’t be stolen, and will never be lost — will be yours when you die and you receive your eternal inheritance! Salvation is more than just being saved from hell and punishment. Salvation is being saved for a purposeful life now and an eternal glory that is waiting for you with the Father! So rejoice and “celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words”! Your inheritance, when you come to share glory with Me, will far exceed any earthly inheritance. Such is the nature of the salvation awaiting you that “you will see completely at the end of things”! Verses to Live While you have read the following words of celebration and praise the last several days, do so again. This time, however, focus your joy on being an heir of God’s grace and glory. This eternal inheritance is yours, as the words in bold below announce. Salvation is so much richer and deeper than you can imagine. You are a child of the King of Glory! Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope — reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last. Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:3-9) Response in Prayer O Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family by grace. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the high price of that adoption. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being the deposit that guarantees the inheritance that I will receive. Father, to know that I am Your child, a participant in Your grace, and an heir of the riches of Your mercy and grace is the reason for great joy. So forgive me for not always being thankful. Forgive me for wallowing in my problems and not looking through them to the glory that awaits. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, I thank You with a joyful appreciation that is beyond words! Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Great Joy in Believing
Note from Jesus Dear Precious One, I know faith is not easy, especially now living nearly two thousand years after My death, burial, and resurrection. So I want us to spend today and the next two days together delighting in your faith. Our tour guide is My impetuous and dramatic apostle, Peter. We will be reading from the opening words of his small letter (1 Peter) to believers in Asia Minor. Like you, those people had never seen Me. They had to take the testimony of others who had. They were facing imminent persecution like many of My followers face right now in a lot of places in the world. Peter wanted to affirm their faith and also to emphasize several great blessings that accompanied their faith. I want you to delight in these things that he said and be blessed. Each day, the special focus sections will be in bold so you won’t miss them! Before sharing the verses from 1 Peter, I want to remind you of the promise I made to Thomas — a promise I shared with you in yesterday’s verses: Eight days later, they [the disciples] gathered again behind locked doors; and Jesus reappeared. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus: May each one of you be at peace. He drew close to Thomas. Jesus: Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; reach out your hand, and put it to My side; leave behind your faithlessness, and believe. Thomas (filled with emotion): You are the one True God and Lord of my life. Jesus: Thomas, you have faith because you have seen Me. Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they still believe. (John 20:26-29) Notice those words in bold! I have a special blessing for you — you who believe without having ever seen Me. Your faith is precious! It stands guard over your heart and protects you to receive a salvation and share in a glory that you won’t fully enjoy until you discover it “completely at the end of things.” It is more valuable than gold. Your faith gives you something that can’t be stolen. That faith has given you something that isn’t perishable — it won’t wear out or decay. That faith is connecting you to true and eternal salvation. So today, I want you to take a moment and be thankful for the gift of your faith! Your faith was planted in your heart and nurtured by someone for whom you should give thanks. Your faith connects you to Me, and I am more powerful than death and all the forces of hell. Your faith is protected by the power of God if you are willing to nurture it and rejoice in it. Your faith is placed in Me and what We — Father, Son, and Spirit — have accomplished in My resurrection from the dead and in the power that is continuously being released into your life as you keep your faith focused on Me. Your faith is the door of grace opening to you so that you can receive all that salvation is meant to offer you — now and forevermore. Thank you for believing! I left heaven to win your heart, to give you a reason to believe, and to give you a hope that can endure until we see each other face-to-face and your faith becomes sight and we rejoice together… forever! Verses to Live Peter was present when I was talking with Thomas in the verses quoted above from John’s gospel. The second paragraph below echoes the things that I said to Thomas about you and others who have faith without having seen Me. Notice the things that Peter associates with your faith: “a living hope,” “eternal inheritance,” “never fade or fail,” “salvation,” “praise, honor, and glory,” and “joy that is glorious and beyond words.” Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope — reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last. Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:3-9) Please remember Peter’s words. Especially remember them when you are facing difficulties because of your faith. Please remember Peter’s words when you are wondering whether it is worthwhile to continue along the path of faith. Peter’s words were spoken with the integrity of proven and challenged faith. Peter’s words were tested by fire. He had endured hardship, ridicule, threat, and persecution and yet refused to renounce his faith in Me after My resurrection. When facing possible death if he and his fellow apostles continued to proclaim My resurrection, Peter and the apostles said: If we have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to any human authority, then we must obey God. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death. You [the religious leaders] killed Jesus by hanging Him on a tree, but God has lifted Him high, to God’s own right hand, as the Prince, as the Liberator. God intends to bring Israel to a radical rethinking of our lives
The Blessing of Believing
Note from Jesus Dear Seeker of Truth, Believing in My resurrection is a real challenge. That’s understandable. Having a friend who dies and then suddenly appears, offers for you to touch him, shows you his scars, eats bread with you, drinks wine with you, has a bit of fish with you, and then shares your company doesn’t happen in your experience. But the most important purpose and meaning for your life hinge on your faith in My resurrection. Paul makes this clear when he says: Now if we have told you about the Anointed One [Me, Christ] (how He has risen from the dead and appeared to us fully alive), then how can you stand there and say there is no such thing as resurrection from death? Friends, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then even the Anointed hasn’t been raised; if that is so, then all our preaching has been for nothing and your faith in the message is worthless. And what’s worse, all of us who have been preaching the gospel are now guilty of misrepresenting God because we have been spreading the news that He raised the Anointed One from the dead (which must be a lie if what you are saying about the dead not being raised is the truth). (1 Corinthians 15:12-15) Being My disciple hinges on your faith in My resurrection! Sooner or later, if you haven’t already done so, you must take the huge step of faith and entrust your future to this reality that is outside your experience. Helping you to believe in My resurrection is the reason why My interaction with Thomas is so important a week after My resurrection. (See the verses below for this story.) Thomas was not a bad guy. He was not trying to be difficult or problematic. He just wanted to know for sure. He just wanted to know for himself. He would not believe until he saw Me face-to-face and touched my scars. The confession and commitment of Thomas after seeing Me and being able to touch Me, are powerful: You are the one True God and Lord of my life. Thomas’ confession and commitment are what I want from you concerning Me. Your problem is that I am not there for you to physically touch. That’s why I promised you the special blessing that I did: Thomas, you have faith because you have seen Me. Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they still believe. The apostle Peter knew your challenge to believe since you haven’t seen Me. He taught and wrote to people who had never seen Me yet believed. He wrote to these disciples about the blessing of believing and the joy such faith brings: Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:8-9). I want you to remember these blessings. I want you to remember these blessings every time you struggle with doubt. I want you to remember these blessings every time someone ridicules you for believing in Me and My resurrection. These blessings are yours because you believe! The Holy Spirit will help you strengthen your faith and have confidence that you can receive these blessings. Here are a few of the many reasons to believe in My resurrection: The eyewitnesses who wrote in the New Testament about My resurrection. People like My own family, and especially My brother James, who did not believe that I was the Messiah and Son of God until seeing Me alive after My resurrection from the dead. The change in the apostles from men who were scared and hiding to world-changing men of courage, many of whom were martyred for their faith in Me. The experiences you have had of My presence in your life as you have served Me: – the times just the right word came from someone else, – the empowerment I’ve given you when you were on mission, – the rich sense of My presence when you’ve served the needy, and – the palpable sense of My presence as you’ve worshiped. The testimony and resilience of My people over the centuries through oppression, martyrdom, and ostracism. These are but a few reasons. Verses to Live Don’t get so hung up on the reasons to believe that you miss the two truths I want you to hear in the verses below: I know it is hard for many of you to believe — you’re like Thomas and many others like him. Keep seeking Me and you will find Me. There is a great blessing for you who find your way through doubt and come to faith in Me — for you who have never physically seen Me and yet still believe. Please receive that blessing now as you read about Thomas, his struggle for faith, his incredible confession and commitment, and My blessing for you who believe in Me, yet have never seen Me! All of the eleven were present with the exception of Thomas [that first Sunday evening after Jesus was raised from the dead]. He heard the accounts of each brother’s interaction with the Lord. The Other Disciples: We have seen the Lord! Thomas: Until I see His hands, feel the wounds of the nails, and put my hand to His side, I won’t believe what you are saying. Eight days later, they gathered again behind locked doors; and Jesus reappeared. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus: May each one of you be at peace. He drew close to Thomas. Jesus: Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; reach out your hand, and put it to My side; leave behind your faithlessness, and believe. Thomas (filled with emotion): You are the one True God and Lord of my life.