Ep 72. The Key to Life. Is His Presence Enough?

An excerpt from my daily devotional reading recently talked about the “Key to Life” “Madonna said, ‘When I was growing up... Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favourite idol of all.’ Napoleon Bonaparte said, ‘I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man.’ Novelist H.G. Wells said, ‘I am an historian, I am not a believer. But this *penniless preacher* from Galilee is irresistibly the centre of history.’” As the Founder of ALPHA Nicky Gumbel wrote “Even people who would not describe themselves as followers of the ‘penniless preacher’ recognise that there is something extraordinary about Jesus. No one, not even angels, can compare to Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–14). If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. He said, ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). Everything you read and understand about God through the Bible needs to be read through the lens of Jesus. He is the ultimate revelation of God. Your key to getting your life sorted out is Jesus. Your key to understanding the Bible is Jesus. Your key to understanding God’s character is Jesus. Your key to life is Jesus”. (Excerpt taken from Bible in One Year 2022 with Nicky Gumbel on the Bible App) I couldn’t help but be encouraged and moved to tears by this notion. EVERYTHING we need to understand about life and God is in Jesus. But how do we get there if we don’t know Jesus or the life he lived? Perhaps it starts with picking up one of the gospels to read about the life and character to understand how good he really is. Perhaps its a surrendered heart to say “Even when I don’t get it, I will trust you”. Or perhaps its hanging up the questions and apathy towards what’s not happening in life, our disappointments, our questions, our what ifs and heartbreaks to let Jesus have full access as we invite him in to do what only he can do. And now going a step further. . . if you’ve looked to Jesus to understand God and even have been on this faith journey a number of years but still wrestle with doubts and understanding what and how God is moving in your life, I’d like to encourage you that it’s possible to choose faith and trust even amidst the hardest of places. I wanted to share another devo from a 25day devotional on staying in your story. It poses a good question or two to consider, but I also believe through the process of worship and a surrendered heart we all can come to a place of being fully resolved to Trust God with writing our story, even more so than ourselves. . . Because he is ONLY Good, Im convinced whatever we go through will ultimately be worked out for our benefit and our good IF we allow it to. Takeaways:: Take some time this week to reflect on those questions. Go sit with them. Talk to God. Ask him what he has for you. Open your heart to him and see where he wants to take you. . . I’ll be praying with you, that it’s somewhere incredible as you dive in to time with him. Thanks for joining me this week on the Places Between. Hope you have a great week.