March 20
Scripture of the day: "And He was saying to them, 'You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.'" John 8:23-24
Thought of the day: There is an extra word in these verses. Jesus actually said, "for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins." The implied word "He" is not in the original text. At the burning bush, God spoke to Moses saying, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14. I am is one of the most significant identifications of God. Jesus, claiming to be the I am, incited the Jews who heard His words. And He conditioned their eternal life on their acceptance of His claim. "Unless you believe that I am, you shall die in your sins."
Challenge of the day: Jesus is our friend and older brother ... but never forget that He is also the I am. He is the great and powerful God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. He is the infinite, eternal, all-powerful one. The I am became the God-man. In your mind and heart, is Jesus too much man and too little God? The I am loves you. He died for you. Tell your friends about Him ... and remember the I am has sent you to them.
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