It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?” They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” JOHN 10:22-33 NLT
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. JOHN 1:1 NLT
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. JOHN 20:28 NLT
And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.” HEBREWS 1:6 NLT
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. COLOSSIANS 1:15 NLT
He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created… JOHN 1:2-3 NLT
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16 NLT *
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love… indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. *ROMANS 8:38-39 NLT
God’s love is only upon you if the love of Jesus is in you
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 NLT
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. JOHN 17:3 NLT
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 PETER 1:1 NLT
And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” JOHN 3:36 NLT
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. JOHN 3:18 NLT
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. JOHN 14:1 NLT
To believe means to repent of sins, trust and follow Jesus
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few moments to breathe in and out, releasing busyness and internal noise. Reflect for a few moments on how you feel about Jesus: as Creator, as Savior, as Judge, as a man, as God, spending a few moments with each of these aspects. How does your heart respond to each? Did anything surprise you? Now invite Jesus to be with you in this place, picturing him sitting with you as you reflect. What are the things that you love about him? What are the things that are keeping you from loving him? Ask him to show you how you can open yourself to loving him more and how you can open to his love. As you move through your week, intentionally allow your heart to remain open to growing more deeply in love.