Bible League: Living His Word "I assure you, anyone who hears what I say and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.” — John 5:24 ERV The book of Genesis gives a historical background on how God created humanity in glory, and how Adam and Eve sinned; and the glory departed, resulting in death and sinful nature. God intended that people should live forever in glory. It is therefore befitting that Jesus had to come and die to set people free from sin and death. In Genesis 5, a descendant of Noah lived close to a thousand years. God had created His image bearers to live forever, and the body was able to remain young forever. The consequences of sin altered all the good God had planned for humans in the Garden of Eden. God did not make us to die, it was the result of disobedience! That is why death is generally unbearable and excruciating, even if our loved ones are over 100 years old! God wants people to know that even though death is inevitable, people must know that Jesus Christ has encountered death on our behalf to set humanity free! Salvation is a free gift, given gracefully! You must maintain it using God’s Word and following Christ through faith! It is a gift that no one can pay for, so this gift is not forced on anyone, it is a choice. The requirement is faith. In today’s verse, Jesus assures each one who hears His words and believes in the Father would have eternal life! True faith in the Father is the true faith in Christ, the same is true in reverse. The salvation plan for humanity unfolded through Jesus Christ! These words are so profound because Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.” Beloved, as you read, may your faith be developed to trust the words that Jesus says! Eternal life is more glorious than life in this world (Romans 8:18). It is a world where sin and death do not govern because Jesus has already paid for all our sins at the Cross of Calvary, hence, “they will not be judged guilty!” Hallelujah! Faith is remarkable because it is our point of contact when we come to God. Faith enables us to trust Jesus with every sin that we have ever done; thus, the sinner leaves death and enters into everlasting life! He becomes part of the family of believers! This is incomprehensible to the natural mind, hence the Holy Spirit convicts our hearts to believe the truth of the Scriptures (John 16:13-15)! This is the Good News the devil does not want you to believe! Since we have crossed from death to life, we need to live for Christ! Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, who enabled you to cross over to the new year of 2024! Keep following Jesus in the New Year even when circumstances are getting worse, remember where He took you from! From death to eternal life! Hold on and keep the faith as Job did! By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 22, 23 Leviticus 22 -- Rules for Priests and Flawless Sacrifices NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 23 -- Feasts of Weeks, Trumpets, Tabernacles; Day of Atonement NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 1:1-22 Mark 1 -- John the Baptist Preaches, Baptizes Jesus; Jesus Tempted, Calls First Disciples, Preaches, Heals and Prays in Galilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Our children will also serve him.Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done. Insight If we want our children to serve the Lord, they must hear about him from us. It is not enough to rely on the church or those with more knowledge to provide all their Christian education. Challenge We must reinforce the lessons of the Bible in our homes. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Philippians 4:11 I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned ... to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave--a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.1 Peter 2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," Philippians 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Psalm 8:1 For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Matthew 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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