Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 3Sample

In today’s passage, we see a number of Jesus encounters, and each tells us something about who our God is and how extravagantly He loves us. We start with the transfiguration, as Jesus takes the three up the mountain, and He appears before them in all His glory, His clothes a dazzling white. A cloud then appears, and the voice of God is heard as He declares: “This is my Son, whom I love.” God desires to come and affirm our true identity in Him. When we understand that we are His children, not just servants, but children of the Most High God, the way we approach Him and what we believe about His countenance towards us changes forever.

Secondly, we see Jesus healing a boy possessed by an impure spirit. His father asks Jesus to drive out the Spirit, to which Jesus replies, “everything is possible for one who believes.” The father then exclaims: “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” Jesus desires to see everyone reconciled to the Father, and He comes to set us free from the things that bind us and keep us from the love the Father has for us. Do you believe God can set you free from whatever is keeping you from a full relationship with Him? The good news is, even if you don’t, just like the father in this passage, we can ask Jesus to help us believe. Trust Him to come and set you free today.

Finally, Jesus reveals to His disciples that He was going to be handed over, killed and would be resurrected in three days. God’s extravagant love for you caused Him to send His only Son to the cross. As you grab hold of your true identity in Him, as you are set free from the things that bind, know that who you were before Christ has been crucified and is no more. You have been resurrected with Christ into a life of fullness. May this be your reality today. Bless you!