08/18/2021 LIVING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Genesis 15:1 After this, the WORD of THE LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Don’t be afraid, Abram, “I AM your shield, your very great reward.” [New International translation]
Exodus 3:14: And GOD said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and HE said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. [King James translation]
John 6:32, 35: JESUS said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my FATHER who gives you the true bread from heaven.…”Then JESUS declared, “I am the bread of life….” [New International translation]
John 14:1, 6: “Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting GOD, now trust in me…. I am the Way---yes, and the Truth and the Life. No man can get to the FATHER except by means of ME….” [Living Bible translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
GOD seeks a relationship with you and me. Many of the “I AM” statement describes what GOD will be to us or how GOD will relate to us.
In Genesis 15:1, GOD tells Abram (before GOD changed his name to Abraham) that GOD would shield Abram, so Abram need not fear. Abram just had to continue to obey and have faith.
In Exodus 3:14, GOD doesn’t just state that “I AM,” referring to GOD self-existence, but HE specifically instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you,” basically telling the Israelites that GOD will be with them in their time of trouble.
The Book of John contains seven “I AM” statements of JESUS.
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- I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
- I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
- I am the Door [or Gate] (John 10:9)
- I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
- I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
- I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
- I am the True Vine (John 15:1,5)
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In John 6, JESUS says as “THE BREAD” those who “come to me” “will never go hungry again.”
In John 8, JESUS says as “THE LIGHT” those who “follow” will not walk in darkness [or fear stumbling or fear walking the path]. In John 10, JESUS says, as “THE DOOR or GATE,” we (like sheep) need not fear how we will get in or out of difficult situations nor fear for our safety nor worry about “green pastures,” because we will be saved. JESUS is the “GOOD SHEPHERD.”
In John 11, comforting a grieving Martha, JESUS says as the “RESURRECTION” and “THE LIFE,” those who believe need not fear death because they shall live again.
In John 14, comforting his disciples JESUS tells them they don’t have to be troubled or concerned about the twists, turns, and complexities of life, because if they know JESUS, JESUS is “THE WAY,” “THE TRUTH” and “THE LIFE.”
In John 15, JESUS reminds us that living in this world will be painful, sometimes for our own good as when THE GARDENER (THE FATHER) corrects or “prunes” us like a grapevine. Sometimes the pain will come from the world (because not everyone will love us or be kind, some in the world will hate us because and some followers will be persecuted) but JESUS says as “THE TRUE VINE” (and we the branches) all we have to do is “abide” in JESUS.
GOD and JESUS state “I AM.” We just need to follow, be obedient, believe, persevere, and have faith, as we trust and live in a relationship with GOD.