![]() Today, dear friend, this same identity is available to you. The only thing that has ever held me back is me - and my faulty definitions of myself. and that I too could call myself the one whom Jesus loves. There's something that seems slightly presumptuous about that, and so it's safer to skirt on the edges of this relationship I have with Christ.Īnd yet when I dare to admit the possibility that Jesus might love me as much as He loved John. ![]() It's quite another to place myself in the "inner circle" because of Jesus' love for me. It's one thing to identify myself as a Christian, as if it's a set of beliefs I adhere to. ![]() John's confidence of Jesus' love emboldened him.Īs I thought of all the descriptions I've given myself over the years, I realized that this one might be the most life-changing for me. After the resurrection, John fearlessly preached the Good News alongside the others, and faced persecution and imprisonment. Nor when he was among the first at the tomb, possibly facing bewildered and angry Roman soldiers. He didn't fear man's threats as he stood at the base of the cross, caring for Jesus' mother. John was confident of Jesus' love, and this had a powerful effect on how he lived his life. ![]() Recently it hit me that this identity - one loved by Jesus - was how John described himself. But what if this title, this label, wasn't given by the others? That wouldn't be uncommon, as siblings tend to have an unspoken understanding of one child being favored. Perhaps they believed Jesus loved John more than the others. Interestingly, this description is only found in the book of John, and scholars believe John the Apostle, the author of the book, was referring to himself.įor years, I assumed this was a title the other disciples gave John. In the book of John, one of the disciples is described this way: the one whom Jesus loved. The New Testament tells of a disciple of Jesus who had an interesting definition for himself, one that seemed to impact his life as well. The way I describe myself has a powerful effect on how I see myself. Some based on fact, yet others based on emotion. Some have been positive, others negative. Un-athletic isn't the only label I've given myself over the years. Not exactly sure what I was thinking that day. I did get called back for a dancing spot in the school play, but went to the auditions in Levis 501 straight leg jeans. It didn't help that I got hit in the head at softball tryouts and was in the first cuts from the volleyball and basketball teams. The name "hips" stuck in my mind for years, as I labeled myself un-athletic and uncoordinated. And from that point on I was keenly and uncomfortably aware that I didn't have a "desirable" figure. "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him." John 13:23 (NIV)Īs a freshman in high school, a boy gave me the nickname "hips." Although I was thin, my shape wasn't popular like the models of that time. I hope this article taught you something about how to achieve success.Loading the player. However, we should always remember that these are just trials in our lives and that no matter what happens, there is that “supreme being” up there who always loves us and will accept us no matter what experiences or mistakes we make in the past. What amazed me is at the later part these words were changed into the word “Beloved”. Sometimes, we make mistakes, bad things happen, and we start to become pessimistic in life, we feel empty, unloved or even worthless. Watching this video, you see Jason taking photo’s of people holding a cardboard which has a negative word on it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |