GDLC Audio

One of the more amazing things about our faith is that it is a “now and later” faith. We have Jesus in our hearts-and-lives now on earth, and we have Jesus in our hearts-and-lives later and for eternity! When we consider the incredible truth that Christ is with us “always…even to the very end of the age”, or, said differently, “now and later”, it causes us to have something else both “now and later” and that “something” else is joy, true joy, His joy! We can do what we’re called to do in 1Thessalonians 5:16 right here on earth, namely, “Rejoice Always”, because in and through Christ, both now and later, we have true and unshakeable joy!

One of the more amazing things about our faith is that it is a “now and later” faith. We have Jesus in our hearts-and-lives now on earth, and we have Jesus in our hearts-and-lives later and for eternity! When we consider the incredible truth that Christ is with us “always…even to the very end of the age”, or, said differently, “now and later”, it causes us to have something else both “now and later” and that “something” else is joy, true joy, His joy! We can do what we’re called to do in 1Thessalonians 5:16 right here on earth, namely, “Rejoice Always”, because in and through Christ, both now and later, we have true and unshakeable joy!

We’re ending this tour through John with what is perhaps the most obvious of encounters with Jesus and that’s Him meeting us in our need…our need for forgiveness. Peter had denied Christ. Peter had gone back on his word. Frankly, in the garden with Jesus, Peter had bold face lied to the Lord. And yet what does Jesus do? Does He act like we would, kicking Peter to the curb and walking away? Nope. Jesus reaches out to Peter. Jesus seeks Peter. Jesus comes to Peter in His need and speaks the word of forgiveness He so desperately needed. He does the same for us. Thank you Jesus that when we sin…when we run…when we deny…You come to us in our need!

We’re ending this tour through John with what is perhaps the most obvious of encounters with Jesus and that’s Him meeting us in our need…our need for forgiveness. Peter had denied Christ. Peter had gone back on his word. Frankly, in the garden with Jesus, Peter had bold face lied to the Lord. And yet what does Jesus do? Does He act like we would, kicking Peter to the curb and walking away? Nope. Jesus reaches out to Peter. Jesus seeks Peter. Jesus comes to Peter in His need and speaks the word of forgiveness He so desperately needed. He does the same for us. Thank you Jesus that when we sin…when we run…when we deny…You come to us in our need!