Image-bearing, Word Honoring, Life Giving (Lent 36, 2023)

The Bible isn’t like any other book on your shelf.  It is life itself. Sometimes people use a BIBLE acronym standing for “Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.”  I can’t help but think that Jesus must have viewed His Word that way.

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life … Image-bearing and Word-honoring and Life-Giving.  He is the Word of God made flesh, and He proved in His last words upon this earth that He meant every word of it when He gave us instruction about His Word.

Deuteronomy 32:45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you– they are your life. 

John 6:63 The words I have spoken to you– they are full of the Spirit and life.

Knowing He was going to die, He honored the Fifth Commandment for His mother Mary and His Father God.  He made sure His mother was cared for in the tradition of the Jews as He was the oldest of Mary’s sons.  Jesus’ other family members thought He was out of His mind, so Jesus reached out to a true brother, one who loved, a faithful disciple.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” John 19:26-27.

Focus for Lent: Seeing the high value Jesus placed on obeying Scripture, aim to do the same in your life.

Questions for further thought:

If Jesus describes His Word as full of the Spirit and life, why do so many dismiss the Bible as no longer relevant or worth obeying?

Do we view all Ten Commandments as God’s actual Commandments or just helpful suggestions?  Is it easier to obey the “table” Commandments 1-5 or the ones pertaining to our treatment of our fellow Image-bearers (Commandments 6-10)?  View the Commandments in Exodus 20.

Do you ever feel like obeying 1-5 is more important than obeying 6-10?

Prayer: Father God, please help me to remember that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that we might be equipped for every good work as Your servants.  Help me to realize that it is unhelpful and wrong for my picking and choosing among Your Word, treating it like a buffet instead of like Your clear instructions for how to live.  Please forgive me Lord.  I pray that You will renew a strong desire in me to honor Your Word in all things.  They are words of life, words of power, and words of truth!  Thank You for Jesus who is the Word made flesh.  Thank You for His sacrifice.  Help me to appreciate all these things at all times, Lord.  I humble myself with an attitude of gratitude during this Holy Week and always for the great things You have done! Amen.

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Categories Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals | Tags: | Posted on April 4, 2023

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