The Bible

My family loves Christmas. We always have and we’ve passed that love down to our kids and grandkids. Since we’ve grown, we decided several years ago to exchange names at Thanksgiving and then buy gifts for the name of the person each received.

 

???????????????????????????????This year, we decided to give books for this exchange and so far I haven’t heard any complaints. My gift this year was from my future sister-in-law (thank you Gail!). I got a new Bible. Oh, not just any old Bible, but the one I wanted. I’ve read The Voice on line and have been intrigued by the translation.

 

On the front cover, this version boasts these words. “Guaranteed for life.” As I looked into it, it seems that indeed once registered, this Bible can be replaced or repaired during my lifetime. There is a list of tips and guidelines for the care of this new Bible, but the folks at Thomas Nelson want their Bibles to last a while.

 

Of course I knew that’s what “guaranteed for life” meant, but I also knew the other guarantee that accompanies every Bible. Abundant life and eternal life.

 

King David knew the abundant life found through God. Take a look at his words from Psalm 52:8 (The Voice). “But my life is abundant—like a lush olive tree cared for at the house of the one True God. I put my trust in His kind love forever and ever; it will never fail.”

 

In John 10:10 (The Voice), Jesus said, “I came to give life with joy and abundance.”

 

Later in the Book of John and as a supplement to the text, the authors of The Voice give us this insight to John 21:12. “It is the reality that through Jesus believers can have abundant life, a full and meaningful life, here and now through faith.”

 

And there are plenty of passages that show us the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Luke 19:29-30 (The Voice) says, “I’m telling you the truth: there is nobody who leaves his house of wife or siblings or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive more than he has given up—much more—in this age and in the age to come. He will receive eternal life.”

 

John 3:16-17 (The Voice) is probably spinning around in your head. “For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.”

 

Romans 6:22-23 (The Voice) offers these words. “But now that you have been emancipated from the death grip of sin and are God’s slave, you have a different sort of life, a growing holiness. The outcome of that life is eternal life. The payoff for a life of sin is death, but God is offering us a free gift—eternal life through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.”

 

For further reading about eternal life, take a look at 1 John 1:1-2; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-12; and 1 John 5:11-12 (or maybe read the whole book of 1 John).

 

Guaranteed life. That’s what faith in Jesus is all about. When we follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are given this free gift. Life. Abundant life. Eternal life.

 

This gift from God is available for anyone who is willing to place their trust and faith in Jesus. Have you accepted this gift? If not, maybe today is the perfect day to be filled with life. Look for Jesus. Accept the life He offers. The guarantee is beyond measure.

 

As a follower of Jesus, are you living the abundant life Jesus has offered? I pray that you are living life to the fullest through Jesus. I pray that you are not letting days slip by without being filled by Jesus’ presence and words. I will have to say it again, the gift of abundant life Jesus offers carries a guarantee beyond measure.

 

The New Year is just a few days away. If you are in need of a resolution, why not make a commitment to spend more time in God’s Word? Another guarantee is that what you read within its pages are life-transforming. Make it a good year by allowing Scripture to change you.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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