“Hey, you wanna see what I have?” You ever heard that when you were a kid or been the kid asking someone else the same question? It usually came with a had fisted over something like a neat shaped rock, a ladybug, a four-leaf clover, a flower… It wasn’t usually that big or exciting. Maybe a tooth or a dollar from the “tooth fairy” but that’s about all.
I was doing a bible study and the author quoted John Piper. His words have been sticking with me the whole week so I thought I’d share them with you.
He said, and I’m not quoting because I’m not sure this is verbatim. But the gist is: If you have something. HAVE. All that that thing is or does belongs to you. For example: If you HAVE a cold, you have all the cold is and brings like a runny nose, fever, sneezing etc… If you HAVE a doctor then you have all of that doctor’s knowledge, wisdom and skill to help you. Let me take it a little further. If you HAVE a whole house, then you HAVE all that the house is and gives such as shelter, safety, a place to entertain and find comfort. You have access to all the rooms.
Piper than goes on to say if you HAVE Jesus, then you HAVE all of who He is, what He can do, all that comes with Him. Because you HAVE Him.
That really hit different. If you’ve accepted the truth that Jesus is who He is says He is and you believe, then you HAVE Jesus. Not a little of Jesus. Not just some good words He proclaimed. You HAVE all of Him.
You have His grace and mercy.
You have eternal life.
You have a new identity in Him.
You have access to His healing–physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
You have the same resurrection power that raised Him from the dead living in You.
You HAVE it all.
But do you know what ALL is? The only way to know that for yourself is to be in that word, learning who you HAVE. That would be like HAVING a whole house but never bothering to go into some of the rooms when you have full access to them all.
Why would you not do that?
It would be like being handed a present and turning it down, never opening it. Why would you do that? You wouldn’t.
So why, friend, do we go day after day not knowing all that we HAVE in Jesus? I encourage you today to look at the palm of your hand and remind yourself you HAVE Jesus and He’s far bigger than what might fit in the palm of your hand.
Even better, He has you in the palm of His. IF…you HAVE Him. And if not, let’s talk. I’d love to hear what you’re thinking.
QUESTION:What’s one thing you carried in your palm as a child for someone to see? Me–lightning bugs!
