PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 5:24-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” (John 5:24)
In his first words, Jesus says that those who hear and believe have eternal life.
This is present tense, they have already crossed over from death to life.
This is not based on how they lived, but on whether they heard and believed.
But then he says that life is given to those who have done good (v.29).
How do we reconciled this; do we get eternal life by believing, or by doing good?
The answer is both; those who believe Jesus will do what is good.
Jesus defeats evil and restores us to our God given position and purpose.
If we believe this, we receive that position and purpose and act on it.
We are already forgiven and restored, and now we choose to live accordingly.
The good deeds show we have believed the message, and have trusted Jesus’s victory.
Jesus has graciously restored us to our God-given calling of do-gooders.
Jesus has graciously given us his Spirit to show and help us live as do-gooders.
We are not yet perfect in our goodness, but by grace we are able to aim for it.
If I hear and believe, it will be seen in how I live and what I do… is it?
PRAYER
Lord, you have restored me as God’s partner, and invite me to work with you in doing good. Help me to trust you and join you in your good purpose!
“the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” I am alive now as I hear Jesus speaking to me through my thoughts, through his word, through God moments. I’m not dead even though my body gets older and more limited each day – I know that I will live on. Lord, continue to speak for your servant is listening – like Samuel, I want to do your will. HS lead me guide me along the way – that is my prayer. I know I need to go beyond listening to action – so that others too may find their way to the ‘living water’!
Jesus did the will of His Father. I need to do the same – doing His will. I need to submit my ways into His way for that gives Life. I need to follow Him and do His will. I need to be a channel of His peace also today.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.