I don’t know about you, but life has been like a roller coaster recently. Situations keep changing, and with these come many decisions. At times, it’s exhausting. Jesus gives strength to endure, keep pressing forward.
One of the challenges that many are facing is the issue of security or certainty. When so much is changing, even on a daily basis, many are longing for something that is safe, stable, sure. We can find that security and certainty in Jesus, as we see in John 6:37. Here is John 6:35-37:
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
Jesus gives us a tremendous amount of truth in this one short sentence of John 3:7. For example, the promise at the start of the verse is for all, not most or some or few. Jesus is speaking here about salvation; all those that the Father gives to Jesus for salvation, will come to Jesus for salvation. Not a single one will be missed, or absent, or drop out, or stopped! I am amazed at the power of God to give such a guarantee and certainty.
Even more is the later part of verse 37, because it is a wide open invitation: anyone who comes to Jesus. It doesn’t matter what you past life is life, what is your credit score, criminal record, education level; it doesn’t matter what you look like, talk like, smell like; it doesn’t matter how sinful you have been, how sinful you are, how sinful you will be. Anyone who comes to Jesus will not only be saved. But even more, anyone who comes to Jesus for salvation, Jesus Himself will certainly not cast out!
We might be afraid that what we have sinfully done will contaminate Jesus; or anger Jesus; or disgust Jesus. And while Jesus certainly hates sin as He died on the cross for it, the promise still remains: He will not get rid of you. It is impossible for Jesus to take anyone who has come to Him for salvation and remove them. Once you belong to Jesus, you forever belong to Jesus!
What’s amazing here isn’t what might be called the truth of assurance. What’s amazing here is the truth of Jesus’ love. His love for you is so deep and so sure, that He can guarantee that you will always be welcome and close to Him. There is nothing about us that is hidden from Jesus, so when He makes this promise, He understands everything about us. And yet, knowing full well who you really are, He invites you: come to me, and I will never, ever let go of you!
What is the most impactful part of this study that you want to keep with you this week?
For me, it’s getting a better grasp on how much Jesus loves me. And because His love for me is so deep, and so sure, I can draw closer to Him. I don’t have to hide sinful, ugly parts of me from Jesus. Even knowing my sinful thoughts and actions, Jesus still loves me! And so I love Him all the more!
May you too grow in the knowledge of Jesus, and so love Him all the more!