[Anglican Devotional 7 September 2021] Topic: Whoever Obeys My Word Will Never Taste Death
TOPIC: Whoever Obeys My Word Will Never Taste Death
READ: John 8:48-59 (NKJV)
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
“And I do not seek My [own] glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’
“Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
“Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw [it] and was glad.”
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
THE MESSAGE:
The spiritual ignorance of the Jews led to their picking up stones against Jesus, but He slipped away from their midst. His offence was teaching the mystery of death which they couldn’t understand because they operated in the flesh. He said “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death” (verse 51).
The same confusion prevailed in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve thought that the punishment against sin as detailed by God was physical death. However, as soon as they sinned against God, what set in was not physical but spiritual death. They were cast out from the Garden and faced every torment that the devil could muster. Most regrettably, they were alienated from God and His fellowship.
The word of God is light that leads into eternal life. Whoever obeys it will live forever – sound spiritual life on earth and eternal life hereafter. Abraham, against their thoughts, was truly not dead but lives forever as we read that Lazarus was being comforted in his bosom after physical death (Luke 16:23-25). The sure way to remain alive in God and with God is living by His Word.
PRAYER: Lord, grant me the spirit of obedience to Your Word that l may live forever in You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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