Exodus 34:6-7

6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 

7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected – even children in the third and fourth generations.

Truthful Faithfulness

Today, let’s dive into God’s faithfulness. Faithful, as used in this verse, is the Hebrew noun emeth (eh’-meth), which is often translated to mean “truth.” It embraces reliability, stability, integrity, and faithfulness. We are called, as God’s reflection and creation, to mirror the truth that He reveals to us. It guards our relationship with God. Truth shapes how we interact with God and neighbor, both inside and outside of the church. Truth was the bedrock of the Israelite courts and justice systems. Truth guides our lives and reflects our heart posture. Truth was used to confront idolatry, false prophecy, and social injustice. The hope of the prophets rested on God’s unbreakable truth that would lead them to salvation. God’s truth was the grounds for seeking deliverance. 

For us, we know that God’s truth is the foundation for everything that we believe about the Bible, and it’s something that we can absolutely depend on. God wants us to reflect His love in everything we think, say, and do. Jesus showcases this through one of His famous “I Am” statements, found in John 14:6.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do you understand God’s truth? What is one way that you reflect it in your life? 

John 14:6 – The Path Through Jesus

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO one can come to the Father except through me.

Jesus is addressing His disciples during the Last Supper. He wants to provide comfort and instruction before His future death. Jesus shows the disciples as the way they can know the Father. Jesus is the mediator between all of Creation and God. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God, fully expressing God’s truth in response to the lies of the world and Satan’s evil. Jesus shows His power over life and death and the source of eternal life, offering a full spiritual and eternal life as well as a truer physical life. 

In the Jewish culture, they believed Yahweh as the Father of Israel. Jesus claiming to be the sole pathway to God expands the personal relationship that is available to all people. Jesus is the unique revelation of God towards all creation. Jesus is the high priest who intercedes on behalf of the people. It shows that believers need to lean into their faith in Christ so that there can be reconciliation with God the Father. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does it mean to you that for Christian, trust in Christ would lead us into a life with God and can show how we live in the world?

Look the Way. Learn the Truth. Live the Life.

Jesus is the mediator between sharing God’s will and plan for humanity, and how humanity responds to God’s teachings and command. We’re taught to reflect God’s character to others, through living as Jesus has lived. As a follower of God, we are called to be more Christ-like each day. We don’t have to be perfect, but we must be progressing. We turn away from the sinful ways we were living before Christ, and we turn to God’s path; a path of love, compassion, justice, and mercy. 

We comprehend God’s plan through Scripture, community, and the life of Jesus. I’m reminded of a past quote that says: “The Bible may not have been written to us, but it was written for us.” While this may not be 100% accurate, it paints an interesting mindset on how to read Scripture. The cultures – historical, political, and societal, may be wildly different, but we can take away key principles, values and concepts to apply to our everyday life. We need to study God’s word deeply, asking tough questions when something doesn’t feel right, surround ourselves with people that can help us understand this, and motivate us to go out and live according to those principles using the gifts, talents, and treasures to the best of our ability.

When we do this, we can find our blessings of eternal life. The new life that Jesus guarantees will come through Him, is the eternal life that God promises to all of His creation. We are not separated after our physical life ends. Our souls will continue onward to a place with no tears, no pain, and no sorrow. A place filled with love, compassion, mercy and justice. We’re taught to bring those kingdom values and kingdom practices down to earth, so that they can be reflected to all that we meet. How we do that will adjust person to person, but we can look to how Jesus communicated these things to help us communicate them to others. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, all leading to God. How do you find your path? How do you seek the truth? How do you incorporate God’s way into your life?