A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  July 7, 2018 Real Life   Scripture Reading – 1 John 5:11 - 12 (NLT) "And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life."  

How do people define being alive? From the human perspective there are many answers to that. Some would say that life does not begin until a baby is born and breathes air. Others would say that as long as you are in that state alive and breathing air, that of course you have life.

This simply is not true, biblically speaking. For God did send His Son into the world that in fact people may have life, 'Real Life' - life eternal. And according to Him life begins in the womb, in fact God knew each one of us even before conception itself (see Psalm 139).

But this living, breathing and existing which many people call life is only a vapor in light of the sense of the eternity that we were created to enjoy with Father God. And if we do not find salvation in Christ Jesus, the bible tells us that we are actually walking around - yes, breathing - yes, even existing - yes....but we are dead in our trespasses and sins, living far below the standard that God has purposed for us in Christ Jesus. For eternal life comes only to those who have found the Son, and found the forgiveness and freedom that Christ Jesus alone can bring through faith in His sacrifice for our sins on the cross of Calvary. This eternal life that God has promised for us, does not begin in heaven, but starts immediately in our hearts when we are born from above, or born by the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit takes up residence within us - changing our hearts, minds and the way we understand this life. In this way we then become light and life bearers in a dark world of people walking, eating, drinking and breathing, but yet to discover the fullness of life that Jesus has to bring to them.  

Prayer Father I rejoice for the life that You have given to me in Christ Jesus. I pray that today and each and every day, You will move through me in the Person and power of the Holy Spirit to see your grace extended to others that they too may have life and life more abundantly in and through Jesus Christ my Lord.  

Memory Verse:  2 John 1:3a NLT "Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father…”