DD_Devotional_052810

“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”—John 14:6

There’s a reason why Jesus put these 3 things together.  We can’t separate the Way from the Truth and the Life.  Consider the human condition.  Job has told us that, “Man born of a woman has but a short time to live, and that is filled with much trouble (Job 14:1).”  It reminds us that life is a journey.  It’s filled with ups and downs, with trial and tribulation.  And on this journey, man has a fundamental problem.  Man has to die, but he wants to live; man seeks pleasure all the time, but he finds that life has its share of sorrow; man seeks peace, but he often finds his life filled with confusion. 

Man seeks a way in life, and as he looks around him, he sees many, many ways:

• There is the way of pleasure, which is attractive to many.  But along this way, many are being destroyed by self-destructive behavior; many are suffering disgrace and ruining their health.  The way of pleasure is a dangerous way.
• There is the way of power.  There are those who think that if they can just get enough power, then all will be well.  But this way is abusive and divisive.  Along this way, the strong take advantage of the weak, the rich take advantage of the poor.  The way of power keeps our communities in disorder.  The way of power is a dangerous way.
• There is the way of materialism, and many people have gone that way.  Materialism says, “Get all you can while you can.”  Materialism says, “Anything goes.” Materialism says, “Do whatever you have to do to get to the top.”  But along the way of materialism, there is a world of disappoint-ment, heartache and pain.  Along this way, we discover that offer little support when the storms of life are raging.  The way of materialism is a dangerous way.

Life offers many ways to us, and our society is messed up because many follow the ways of the world.  But there is a better Way.  Jesus says, “I am the Way.”  The Jesus Way is not an easy way; the Jesus Way is not a popular way.  But if we walk the Jesus Way, we’ll find that it’s the best way.

The Jesus Way leads to Truth.  We don’t know the truth until we know Jesus.  We don’t know the truth about self—that what makes us special is our connection to Christ—until we know Jesus.  We don’t know the truth about greatness—that it is found in serving others in the name of Christ—until we know Jesus.  We don’t know the truth about success—that a successful life is a submitted life to Christ—until we know Jesus.

The Jesus way leads to life.  John wrote about that Life when he said, “In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men (John 1:4).”  Jesus told Nicodemus about that Life when He said, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).”  Jesus told the woman at the well about that Life when He said, “The water that I give you shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14).”  Jesus talked about that Life when he said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven:  If anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever (John 6:51).”  Jesus told Martha about that Life when He said, “I am the resur-rection and the Life:  He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:25).”  Jesus talked about that Life when He said, “I have come that you might have Life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).”  Jesus talked about that Life when He told His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, then I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:2, 3).”

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, as we embrace the challenges of 2010, filled with opportunities and fears alike, we are grateful that Jesus offers us His assurance that He is the Way, the Truth and Life.  It is our desire to follow His Way, and to draw nearer to You.  Bless us today and keep us in Your care.  In the name of Your Son, we pray.  AMEN!

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