Tag: I Am
The Eternal “I AM”
Scripture reading for July 2: John 8:56-58 “”Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””
When we become aware of the frailty of our human body and a disease or sickness brings us to cry out for help, often our first response is to turn to doctors. We have been conditioned by our culture to hold medicine and those trained in that field in high esteem. We trust that science and medicine have answers to our problems. But there is a much greater source of answers, cures and help in the God Who is known as the “I AM.”
The God Who reveals Himself as “I AM” in Scripture is the Creator of the universe and all life. He existed before time and is eternal. Our God is present in the here and now, but also was before time or matter. He is also fully conscious of all events and people, past, present and what will come. In the Old Testament, He revealed Himself specifically in several “I AM” statements, including “I AM the Lord, your Healer,” (Exodus 15:26) which we considered yesterday. We will consider these in coming devotions.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, also claimed the same Name for Himself when responding to the questions of the Pharisees and scribes. As “I Am” Jesus is present in the here and now. His presence fills the universe and His knowledge is full and complete since He was and is always present and aware and involved with His creation. That is why He invites all His children to call upon Him for healing, direction, and understanding. He is able and willing to share His unmatched understanding with us. He is just what we need because in coming to earth as a human, He experienced everything we have gone through, yet without sin or breaking fellowship with His Father God.
Prayer: Father God, help me to more fully comprehend Your Name, “I AM” so that I might know You. I humbly recognize my own finite understanding and my need for Your infinite revelation knowledge. Lead me to faith for healing and eternal life. Amen.
The Power of God’s Name
Scripture reading for January 22nd: Exodus 3-6, Matthew 16
Key Scriptures: Exodus 3:13-14 “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” and He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
God and Moses were having a conversation after God had gotten Moses’ attention at the burning bush. God told Moses He heard the prayers of His people and His planned to deliver them from slavery. Moses was concerned that the people would not believe that he had talked with God and sent him to them. God revealed His Name–I AM–to Moses for the people. The Father similarly revealed His Son, Jesus the Christ, to Peter the disciple who was having a conversation with Jesus.
Matthew 16:13-16 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am? Sim Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for the revelation of Jesus the Christ, Son of God! Help me to always revere Your Name in attitude, word, and deeds. Amen.
Thankful for One Shepherd!
Scripture reading for November 6th: John 8-12
Key Scriptures: John 10:14-16 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”
Jesus took the Book of Ezekiel and used an analogy there applying it to Himself. He told the people that He was the good Shepherd who would lay His life down for them, the sheep. He was talking to the Jews but also told them of other ‘sheep’, not of the Jewish fold who also belonged to Him as the good Shepherd. Gentiles would also be included in the Good Shepherd’s flock! In the end there would be one flock and one Shepherd! Praise our Lord one and all!
Thankful for Jesus our Shepherd: “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save My flock and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them One Shepherd, My servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their Shepherd.”” (Ezekiel 34:20-23)
Believe–or die in your sins!
Scripture reading for May 15th: John 8:21-31
Jesus had plainly told the crowd at the temple that He was the light of the world and that anyone who would follow Him would never walk in darkness but would have the light of life. (John 8:12) He also told them that He was going away and that where He was going, they could not follow. He was speaking of returning to His Father and the glory of heaven and they were unable to understand. Some Jews in the crowd even speculated that Jesus was going to kill himself. (John 8:22)
Jesus is the Light of this dark world and faith in Him comes from hearing and believing His word. (Romans 10:17) The greatest darkness does not come from a lack of natural light, but from sin’s darkness in our soul. The light of life shines in this darkness in the person of Jesus Christ and we must settle the question of who this Man is!
“But He (Jesus) continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24) Jesus plainly stated that He was from above and all other men were from below. He told them that sin would bring death unless they believed that He was who He claimed to be. In the Greek, Jesus had told them He was “I AM”, claiming to be God!
This brought another questioning of Jesus. Who was He? Jesus told them that He was just what He had claimed to be all along. He was the Son of the Father who had sent Him. He was their true judge, who was trustworthy and reliable because He was the Son of God. He was the Light of the world that was available for men in the darkness of sin to follow.
They did not understand or would not understand. “So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be], and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” (John 8:28-30) The crucifixion and resurrection would bring revelation! Have you received the Light?