7 Promises of "I AM" | Saturday SOULfood

Happy Saturday, Friend!

Today I invited Karen Roberts to share seven promises contained within the "I Am" statements of Christ recorded in the book of John. I sincerely hope you accept her challenge to set aside the next seven days to dwell on these precious promises. -Sarah Koontz

I am intrigued by the way people introduce themselves.

Many introduce themselves with their professional titles, "I’m the director of sales at XYZ Company."

Others introduce themselves by referring to their relationships, "Hi, I’m the mother of five girls."

Some introduce themselves with just their first names. "Hi, I’m Karen."

How we introduce ourselves tells others what we think is important for them to know.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals seven I AM names that reveal aspects of His character. A promise is linked to each name.

1. Bread of Life (Jn 6:35, 41, 48, 51). "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh," (Jn 6:51 HCSB).

To preserve life temporarily in the wilderness, God rained manna from heaven (Ex 16:4). Whoever feeds upon Jesus lives forever (Jn 6:58).

Promise #1: Jesus gives eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross.

2. Light of the World. "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life," (Jn 8:12 HCSB).

God led the Israelites with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex 13:21). During the Feast of Tabernacles, the pillar of fire was remembered.

Promise #2: When we follow Jesus, His light guides us.

3. Door of the Sheep. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture," (Jn 10:9 HCSB).

At night, shepherds took their sheep to a shelter to spend the night. In the morning, the doorkeeper opened the door, and the shepherd called his sheep by name to follow him to the pastures.

Promise #3: Safety and provision await the one who walks through the door of Jesus’ shelter.

4. Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep," (Jn 10:14-15 HCSB).

In Psalm 23, David writes that God is his Shepherd, and that God provides food, water, guidance, safety, abundance, healing, goodness, and faithful love.

Promise #4: Jesus lays down His life for His followers.

5. The Resurrection and the Life. "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live," (Jn 11:25 HCSB).

Before He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus told Martha, the sister of Lazarus, that He is the resurrection and life. Jesus knew that in a few days, He would be beaten and crucified. He knew He would die and be buried. But Jesus knew that death could not hold Him. Three days later, He rose from the dead.

Promise #5: Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him.

6. The Way, the Truth, the Life. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," (Jn 14:6 HCSB).

Jesus is the new and living way (Heb 10:20), the truth that frees (Jn 8:32), and the gracious eternal life (Rom 5:21).

Promise #6: Jesus leads those who follow Him to the Father.

7. True Vine. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me," (Jn 15:5 HCBS).

Branches cut from the vine cannot produce fruit, but branches that remain on the vine effortlessly produce fruit.

Promise #7: Jesus nourishes those who live in Him, and they produce much fruit.

I invite you to set aside seven days to meditate upon each of the "I AM" statements of Jesus. As you do this, take time each day to:

Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your thoughts.
Write an "I AM" statement in your notebook and write your response to the following questions:

What do you learn about Jesus?

What do you learn about yourself?

How can you apply the statement to your relationship with Jesus?

What is the promise? Do you believe it?

What action will you take today?

Pray that the Holy Spirit will remind you of this "I AM" reality of Jesus and the promise associated with it throughout the day.
Thank God for revealing His character and promises to you.

God introduces Himself much more intimately than we do. His greeting reveals His nature.

I’m rethinking how I introduce myself. What about you?

May every spiritual blessing bathe you in God’s abundant promises as you meditate upon His nature.

"God replied to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, 'Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.'" Exodus 3:14-15

- Karen Roberts