7 April - What Easter Is All About

I read something today that simplifies a lot of things, and especially what the Easter Holidays is all about. If we could grab hold of its truth it would undoubtedly change our lives. It consists of six words: "I am the one Jesus loves.” These six words are in reference to John, a disciple of Jesus’ who is identified in the bible as “the one Jesus loves.” If John were to be asked the question, “What is your primary identity in life?” How would he reply? Many might say he would reply, “I am a disciple, an apostle, an evangelist, or an author, because many of us identify ourselves with what we do, produce or how others see us. We put our identity in these tangible, results-driven titles. Yet John, in introducing himself, did not identify himself in such a way. He saw himself; therefore, others knew him as “the one Jesus loves.” “The disciples began to look at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.” (John 13:23) Perhaps we too can ask, “What would it mean if we came to the place where we saw our identity in life through the lens of being “someone who Jesus loves”? How different would we view ourselves at the end of the day? (Philip Yancey) Studies reveal that we identify and become what the most important and significant person in our life thinks and says we are. “So who, we might ask ourselves, dictates to us our identity?”

Today pause for a moment and consider how your life would change and how you would feel about yourself; your worth, your perspective, your thoughts and beliefs, if you really believed and embraced the truth that God loves you. He loves you right now, how you are warts and all. He loves you in your sin and in your failings and He loves you in your victories and success. Imagine how it would be if on looking in the mirror you saw who and what God sees when He looks at you. And then you chose to live out of that place of knowing His absolute love, acceptance and favour because you are the one Jesus loves. Prayer: Lord, please help me to understand your love for me the way I am right now. That you don’t withhold your love and acceptance from me until “I clean my act up”, but that you love and extend your grace towards me unconditionally. That I am truly “the one You love.” Help me to grab hold of and live out of that truth today. In Jesus name amen. (Thoughts from, “What’s so amazing about grace” by Philip Yancey)