August 6, 2024 Devo

One of the beautiful things that happens when you read the Bible in its entirety is how you can see Jesus fulfilling what God was getting at in the Old Testament. For example, it’s easy to get lost in all the commandments and laws that God gave through Moses. You always have to keep in mind that those rules were for two basic purposes: To protect us and to provide for us. Then there are the prophets. What in the world were they trying to do? Well, they were constantly trying to point out what God’s like and what God can do. This is why when you read them it sometimes feels like God is tender and compassionate and other times it feels like He’s a tyrant.
Then comes Jesus. He says that He is the “accomplishment” or fulfillment of the law and prophets. And He IS! Jesus takes that whole “protect and provide” thing to a whole new level. He states, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the FULL!” (John 10:10). When we live our lives FOR Him and IN Him we discover all that life was meant to be. It’s the same thing with the prophets. Jesus came as God in the flesh. “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” He said (John 14:9). John 1 describes Jesus as “full of GRACE and TRUTH.” He was the full expression of both God’s compassion and God’s judgment. Jesus is clear that sin and disobedience would have to be accounted for, but He’s also clear about how deep and wide His mercy is for those who confess and repent.
Think deep and long about Jesus today. Think about how He loves you. Think about how He never gives up on you. Think about His Power. Think about His Grace. Think about the fact that one day, probably sooner than you think, you’ll have to stand before Him to give an account of your life. Think long and hard about Jesus. He’s the Bible Summary of all that you really need to know. That’s God’s Word for you today.