Prayer is a vital part of our life and walk with God, so that we can “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 10:22). This week we look at the role of prayer in Seeking God’s Glory. Praying “hallowed be your name” is central to the rest of our prayers because glorifying the name of God is the ultimate goal of our lives and of all creation. May God’s glory kindle our prayers and our lives.
What are we to make of Jesus? He goes out of His way to befriend sinners. He offers hope to the lost. He offers to heal the brokenhearted, true friendship for the lonely, and complete forgiveness to the sinner. The devil accuses us of sin to destroy us, just as the Scribes and Pharisees were doing to the woman caught in adultery. But when the contrite sinner stands before Jesus, just as this woman did, Jesus does not condemn – he forgives. But it does come with a price tag…
Shortly before his own crucifixion, Jesus went to Mary and Martha after the death of their brother Lazarus. “If only you had been here!” was their greeting. “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” Jesus said, then he took away the power of their “if only” by raising one man: Lazarus. Our lives are still plagued by “if only,” but God has disarmed every “if only” (and much more!) by raising one man – Jesus the Christ – so that all who believe may live forever! Receive the Easter promise of life and victory in Christ alone!
As we continue through Jesus’ I AM claims looking forward to Easter, today we hear him saying, “I AM the Vine.” This claim is not simply about Jesus’ identity, but also our vital relationship with him. We are the branches, he says, and apart from him we can do nothing. Fruitfulness is the goal of our lives, and God is focused on making that happen through pruning us and connecting us to Christ. May we commit ourselves
wholeheartedly to being connected to Christ in order to bear fruit, which Jesus says “is to my Father’s glory.”
On the night Jesus was arrested, he explained what was about to happen and comforted and encouraged the disciples. Into their anguish about not knowing where Jesus was going, Jesus spoke the I AM statement that most illuminated his divine identity and purpose: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” May we see Jesus as more than someone simply pointing out the way, truth and life; may we instead embrace him as the only and complete way, truth and life.