RTW 2022

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
John 11:25

(Yes, this verse is from yesterday’s reading.)

Zóé (dzo-ay’)life: life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.

Helps Studies: (physical and spiritual). All life (2222 /zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.

Before salvation

We were

• all dead, wrapped in the grave clothes of sin, shame, fear, and failures
• in the tomb of the world,
  UNTIL
• He said our name.

Lazarus came out.

• Took a breath.
• Took off the grave clothes.
• Took a step to follow Jesus.

Since we are no longer dead, we must live like it.

• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  
  2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

Just as Jesus spoke life over Lazarus’s grave, we have to speak life over ourselves because the enemy is fitting us for new grave clothes every day.

If you struggle with living like you are alive, speak life giving I am statements, every day.

• I am the righteousness of God.
• I am loved.
• I am forgiven.
• I am free.
• I am living eternally.

“The life we’ve been given is meant to be lived out.” – Steven Curtis Chapman

John 10:10

• A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (MSG)
• The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (AMPC)

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Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
John 11:45 (NIV)

I wonder if these who believed were among the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him.”

Take a breath. Take of my grave clothes. Take steps to follow Jesus where He leads me.