Speaker: Dwight Mason

Theme: Living Life to the Fullest

Read:   John 20:1-9

Think:   There is a big difference in life between knowing and knowing.  A lot of what we know is facts only; head-knowledge, we might call it.  But when that head-knowledge is combined with an experience, it is something new and deeper.  We don’t just know about the thing, we know it.  Knowing what a hole-in-one is and hitting a hole-in-one are very different (or so I’m told).  Being in love is wholly different from watching someone else who is in love.

Pastor Dwight’s Sunday sermon brought to my mind a lot a stuff I’ve known for a long time, stuff that you’ve most likely heard many times before, too.  I am significant not because of what I do or what I have, but because I belong to God.  The infinite price Jesus paid for me determines my worth, nothing else.  It’s good, important information, and I’ve had it in my head for years.

But recently, God has been working to move some of that head-knowledge to my heart.  When I was laid off a couple of months ago, I came to realize that I had derived too much of my self-worth from my job.  Mostly through loving family and friends, God has impressed on my heart the truths that Pastor Dwight taught.  My significance, acceptance, and security are based on God’s love for me, not on anything I can do.

In the scripture reading for today, forms of the English word ‘see’ are used frequently.  In the Greek, it’s not all the same word.  When ‘the other disciple’ (presumably John) enters the empty tomb, he ‘sees’ with more than his eyes.  He comes to understand the amazing truth of the resurrection in a life-changing way.  He doesn’t just know, he knows.

God wants us all to know how significant we are to Him.  Have you experienced it?

Do:  Identify something in your life that you really know in a deep and meaningful way.  Wouldn’t it be great to know your true worth to God in the same way?

Pray:  Heavenly Father, in my head, I understand that your love for me is the true source of my worth.  But I’m easily distracted into believing otherwise in my heart.  Whatever it takes God, help me really know that You are my source of significance and security.  Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.