Jesus Is…, 23

~ Jesus Christ Is The Resurrection ~

Passage  ~  “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?’  Martha said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world’” (John 11:25-27).

Significance  ~  Jesus controls all life:  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

Comment  ~  Jesus Christ is the source of life:  “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God [The Father] raised Him from the dead.  We are witnesses of this” (Acts 3:14-15 niv).

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Fact Check, 42

~ Christian Leaders Have Arrived Spiritually ~

People Think  ~  Christian leaders—such as pastors and missionaries—have their lives in order and do not sin like the rest of us.

God Answers  ~  The Apostle Paul was arguably the most powerful Christian leader of the early church.  Listen to his personal testimony: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am [am—not was] chief.  However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

The Significance  ~  Be careful not to put your faith in any Christian, leader or otherwise, since they may fail you badly.  Keep your eye on Christ and your faith in Him and His Word. 

Comment  ~  Indeed, Christian leaders should be spiritually mature—but don’t expect them to be perfect.  God does expect a higher level of Christian maturity from those in positions to lead or teach others: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Learn From Gideon, 6

~ Bad Things Do Happen To Good People ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Gideon said to Him, ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?  And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’  But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 6:13).

Learn From Gideon  ~  Circumstances don’t necessarily show reality.  The reality of bad things happening to good people and its opposite of good things happening to bad people has been an issue of contemplation since the beginning. 

1. The Bible understands and teaches this reality. “He [God the Father] makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45b).
2. God does not eliminate troubles from our life as a reward for obedience.  If you doubt this read the Book of Job. 

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .