How’s life playing out for you?
What things are going well and what things would you change if you could?
Last week at church we unpacked the words of Jesus and his offer of Life to the Full. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to the sermon you can find it here. This Life to the Full Jesus offers doesn’t equal a life of bliss and happiness but a life lived in relationship with God. Life to the full is found with Him alone.
As I have been continuing to ponder this idea I was reminded of the time in Jesus’ ministry when a whole lot of people following him turned away from him. Jesus then turned to his disciples and asked them are they going to leave too. Then Peter gave this remarkable answer, he said:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”
Peter understood that a relationship with Jesus was the way to life eternal. He understood that Jesus is the only way to God, so you don’t want to run anywhere else apart from to him.
I came across a helpful quote from John Piper who unpacks what this life in relationship with God means. He says,
“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.”
Life to the full with Jesus means we can trust him no matter what happens – God is working for our good, for the glory of Christ and he will bring us home to be with him.
I think a question I’m left pondering is – do I truly believe and trust that life with God is the best?
And if I do does my life show that I value and cherish my relationship with Him above everything else?
Let me encourage through the joys and trials of life to keep running to Jesus, valuing him above everything else because he alone has the words of eternal life.
Grace & peace,
Paul