The Overwhelming Importance of Knowing and Accepting the Seven ‘I Am’ Statements of Jesus

15 Oct 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Scrip-Bit   15 October 2026   John 8:12.

John 8:12.        ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’

It’s finally happened friends; yes the bright and sunshiny warm days are now over, and the cold weather is slowly creeping in. Thus, the trees, possibly been fooled by the unbroken spell of warm weather, are now hurriedly starting to change the colours of their leaves and then discard them. Yes, they have finally seen the light, and let’s hope that we have also seen the light, whose name is Jesus!

And on this cool and cloudy Thursday in the middle of October, with the winter season quickly approaching, it’s of the utmost importance that we know, appreciate, receive and follow the light of this world. Jesus Himself said it: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) And He is bold and secure enough to repeat it in the next chapter.’ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ (John 9:5) That means He guides people out of spiritual darkness or death, and offers them the light of life.

Now, if Jesus said it, then it must be true, because He’s God and has no need to lie. The problem there was that the foolish, hypocritical Pharisees disputed His claim because Jesus witnessed to Himself. But if He is God; the highest Being in the universe, who else is there above Him to witness for Him eh? So please let’s not do like those Pharisees of old, be narrowed minded and stubborn, and doubt Christ’s claim to be the light of the world, or really none of His six other claims. And you wonder what those are?

Let’s see if we can gather them together. Here is this very important one, sorry, all of them are important. (smile) Jesus solemnly declares: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11)  And He repeats it a little later, with a slightly different angle. ‘I am the good shepherd and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’ (John 10:14) In those two statements Jesus emphasizes His care and protection, and willingness to die for His sheep, just like any good  shepherd would. And we all know He laid down His life for us on the cross of Calvary, so that the Father could justly forgive our sins.  

And shortly before that, He also said: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.’ (John 10:7-9) There Jesus is presenting Himself as the protective keeper of the door through which people can find safety and salvation.

Then in Chapter 11 of John, while talking to Martha about her brother Lazarus’ death, Jesus says to her. ‘ I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:25-26)  Now that’s the perfect question for us to ponder on this cool, cloudy Thursday in mid-October 2026! Yes friends, it certainly is, for like Jesus asked Martha if she believed, He’s also asking us the same question today because it’s the most important question we will ever need to answer in this life. Jesus has the power over life and death, and only those who sincerely believe in Him will experience everlasting life. So it’s of the utmost importance that we answer that question with a very positive ‘YES!’

Then, when Jesus tells the disciples, that He’s going away, He adds: ‘And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:4-6) Ah mih people that’s something else we must also take into great consideration. Jesus is the ONLY way to get to God the Father! He has exclusive rights over that path, and thus, if you don’t believe in Jesus, you will never see the pearly gates of heaven. And believe me, that’s not a very pleasant thought to entertain. So it’s very necessary that we accept and believe in the godly sovereignty of Jesus right now, before it’s too late, since  there’s no way to do it after death.

And when Jesus turns to his husbandry lesson, He rightly expounds: ‘I am the true (genuine) vine, and my Father is the husbandman (vinedresser).’ (John 15:1) Now that’s another agrarian statement that the Jewish people would have clearly understood, like the allegory of the good shepherd. Here, Jesus is saying that we have to stick to Him, like white on rice, so we can get spiritual strength and thus bear good fruit. And later on He enlarges on the statement by saying: ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5)

And that’s the gospel truth, for without closeness to Jesus our abilities are severely limited! And to cover all those ‘I am’ statements, the scholars say that it echoes God’s revelation to Moses at the burning bush, about His identity. ‘And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.’ (Ex. 3:14) So Jesus was quite right in declaring all those ‘I ams’!

Now, let’s declare our Thursday Blessings, undeserved blessings most generously bestowed on us by our heavenly Father to do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and generously use those blessings to help others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE God like we do! Much LOVE!

…Jesus is indeed the First…the Last…and Everything in between…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien    

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 January 2020 Matthew 6:33.

04 Jan 2020 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 6:33.    ​But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 
And on this first Saturday in the new year, there is a veneer, a patina of snow on the ground. (smile) Oh, it’s not much, but we haven’t seen any for a few days now because the temperature has been around 4 or 5 since New Year’s Eve. But let’s not get too complacent, these are the northern climes in the winter season, and as such, are supposed to receive a fair amount of snow. So though climate change has somewhat disrupted the schedule, don’t worry, we will get our fair share eventually. (smile) 

And with that prognostication – what a way the ole fella using big words this morning! Just hope he’s using them right. (smile) So let’s stay prepared! Anyway, it’s Saturday, that means we need to look at some of the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he continues aspiring to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And he’s certainly waxed long and wise this past week. 

Hear this first one: ‘A fantasy noted down with a date turns into an objective. An objective partitioned into ascertained strides turns into an arrangement. An arrangement bolstered by activities makes your fantasies work out as expected. So this New Year, take your fantasies, travel the distance to their goal and make them a reality.’ Now how can I find any fault with that eh, since it calls for sincere belief, endurance and perseverance, three of the most important aspects of a believer’s life. 

My only comment is that I hope our biggest fantasy, well not really a fantasy, but rather a goal, is to walk closer with Jesus this new year of 2020! Now if we do that, then things will be awesome, the Lord will work out everything for good, as He’s so faithfully promised! Glory Be! And following on from that, is this gospel true quote. ‘There are greater things to be achieved in every new year, and each and everyone must prepare themselves to be great, not by words of the mouth, but by a lot of sacrifices.’ 

Now friends, that is an eternal truth we can never escape! All of us want to be great. But too many of us don’t realize that to be a notch or two above the ordinary also takes more sacrifices than it does to be just ordinary. Take a close look at the lives of any great person, and you’ll see the abnormal amount of sacrifices he or she made to reach the level we consider great. Rising up in this life was never, and will never be easy. Look at Jesus. Our Lord and Saviour, the Son of God; His achieved His greatness at considerable sacrifice, the ultimate in sacrifice, His sinless life. 

And as followers of His, we are also called to make sacrifices. Most likely not as much, or as painful as He did, but definitely some that will indeed hurt our flesh. So, if we want to truly follow Jesus this year my brethren, we have to be prepared to make some serious sacrifices, not merely talking a good talk, because walking in His footsteps calls for exactly that! And this next quote is long but wise and very doable, and one we should all try to implement, with Jesus’ help of course. 

Listen up: ‘We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential. Things to think about for 2020: 1. Talk less; listen more; 2. Remind yourself you are not the General Manager of the Universe; 3. Sit on your ego; 4. Take one day at a time; 5. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it; 6. Pray. Happy New Year to all my friends and family.’ 

And it’s rather unfortunate, but quite true, that ALL of us can take those six steps to heart this new year and implement them in our lives! But please remember that the most important step is the last one: ‘PRAY!’ Yes friends, prayer is ever so important because it means serious communication with God; the source, the fountainhead of all that we are, of our very being; the holy, immortal and omnipotent One who fashioned us in His celestial image, and breathed His awesome breath of life into our dirt based bodies! 

So having said all of that, here’s the last quote: ‘Cheers to a new year and another chance for you to get it right.’ And what do we mean by that? Well two scriptures stand out in my mind right now. The first is Jesus’ assurance to his disciples, and consequently to us His modern-day followers. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) 

And so He has my fellow believers. He has defeated hell, death and the grave, and has the keys of both heaven and hell attached to his key ring, so we don’t have to worry about anything, just  receive His awesome peace that passes all the understanding our puny and finite minds can muster, and be cheerful because of all the wonderful things He’s done on our behalf. 

But nonetheless this next scripture is the one that will really cause us to enjoy all the blessings, and endure with strong faith, all the ‘sufferation’ that’s inherent in a believer’s life. Again, the wise advice of Jesus: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ 

Now my people, that’s our first step for this new year. Please, let’s take it, and take it very seriously, so that our greatly disturbed, badly directed, desperate world and all therein, can benefit from God’s goodness! Much LOVE!

…2020…must be the year…we sincerely talk the talk…and even more importantly…walk the walk…in Jesus’ name… Amen!