Category: light

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11.15.24. The LIGHT!

John 12 The LIGHT!~

The mornings are dark now with the changes in the time. As I walk about the darkness of my home, I sense the uncertainties of where I put each step and that is why we have night lights burning to guide us. But, soon the sun is rising and with it a new day with the brightness that the sun brings and then the dust bunnies and things that are not in their right places is seen. My neighbors outside lights were brightly shining but now they are extinguished. So it is with the souls of men. Some are walking in darkness because their deeds are evil and they love darkness rather than light. Others hear and rejoice for the LIGHT has come into the world and they submit to its brilliance. 

Eighteen times in this book Jesus refers to Himself as the LIGHT. Light is one of our most precious gifts for it reveals what our souls need to be saved. We once were in darkness of sin, but then the LIGHT came and we submitted to it. The book of Revelation reveals the brilliance of that LIGHT in all of His glory. Ezekiel saw that same LIGHT and was used to tell the people of Israel that He is coming for His own to transform them…if they will yield to them.

Where are you today precious reader? Are you walking in the darkness or has the LIGHT of the world removed it so you can see and praise Him who is the LIGHT? 

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The Majesty of God

Psalm 104 The Lord God Almighty 

When we believe that God spoke His truth through the Bible, our lives are anchored upon a solid foundation of God’s power, perspective and purpose.

Over and over the writers of scripture remind us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness. Darkness is a picture of sin and God is pure with no sin. Light reveals what darkness cannot. It reveals purity and righteousness and holiness. The psalmist reaches back into Genesis and the creation to share his thought of how holy and pure and righteous God is. 

The Apostle John wrote that “Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.”[1 John 1:5] Are we proclaiming that truth to others? Are we praising God for His creation? “O Lord my God, you are magnificent.You are robed in splendor and majesty.He covers himself with light as if it were a garment.” [Ps 104:1 and 2] 

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Character

Eph 5 The character of the believer

How often have you encountered someone who takes the name of the Lord in vain? Do we also fall victim to this behavior? Do we dishonor the Lord by what we say?  Paul reminds the Ephesians, who lived amongst unbelievers such as us, to live a holy life in all conversations and actions. He reminds us that those who are unbelievers are living in darkness but we are to be light bearers. The Apostle John wrote that those who  are unbelievers walk in darkness for they loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil, but it must not be so for the believer. 

Instead, Paul lists the traits of those who are Christ followers: for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Again in Galatians 5 Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit which all believers are to demonstrate to the unbelieving world. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”[Gal 5:22-23] 

Today be a light bearer. Live holy lives before a dark world. 

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Unbelievers vs. Believers

This is our prayer request

2Cor 1 to 4 Unbelievers have a veil over their minds and their hearts. They cannot understand nor comprehend who Jesus is. But when the Holy Spirit reveals Him, the veil is removed, and they see, understand, and clearly see Jesus. Paul explains it this way: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2Cor 4:4] The god of this age is, of course, Satan, who diabolically wants to keep unbelievers in his kingdom of darkness. But God’s light is greater than Satan’s darkness ” For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.” [2 Cor 4:6].

Today pray for those whose hearts are blind to the gospel and Jesus.

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What God sees and what the world sees:

hear and obey

Matt 5-7 Hear and Do — What is my life built on?

Bear with me in my tears. James reminds us that we can sit all day and hear the words of Jesus flowing forth from preachers, friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and even ourselves, but if we do not obey, we are self-deceived. “But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.” [James 1:22]

The Son, Jesus, looks inwardly. Jesus challenges us to look inwardly to see what He sees. He asks us, Is your life built on him, the Rock of Ages, or is your life built on wood, hay, and stubble? Remember this; what you see me do or not do is not the standard. Jesus says you have heard my words now, step up and do them; otherwise, you are the fool who builds his life on sand. You must mourn over sin, and you must seek humility. You must seek the kingdom of heaven, for all of what you do outwardly is rubbish.

Am I praying? Am I seeking to share the gospel message? Am I sensitive to the hurts of others that we might win their heart for Jesus?

He taught as one with authority and not as the scribes. Therefore, listen and obey, for the scribes are building their lives on sand. You, beloved, are salt and light to a lost and dying world. Therefore, go and Build your life on the Rock.

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God’s Silence is Broken—a Message of Hope!

God so loved...

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3:16, 17]

 Luke 1 and John 1:1-14 It has been 400 yrs. of silence since heaven spoke, yet in His perfect time; God spoke again that the people might know that His plan was still effectual and present, perfectly time just for you!

Years before Luke and John wrote, the prophet Zechariah had seen eight visions for a discouraged people to remind them that His love was everlasting and why He had been faithful to them. [Jer. 31:3] Fast forward 400 yrs., and God sends another message of love and plan to a discouraged people through a priest named (ironically) Zechariah as he ministered at the altar of incense. This Zechariah listens but questions, unlike the prophet Zechariah of 400 yrs. ago! Gabriel, the angelic messenger, says that you will be silent because you did not believe until God’s plan comes to pass. 

Do we question God’s plan when we hear His voice? Beloved, God loves so much that His plan is perfect, and His timing is perfect and He sends His message of love to you who may be discouraged today.   

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The A, B, C’s

The Psalms

Psalm 119: Many of us have scores of Bibles at our fingertips, bookstores galore, and many different websites that offering different versions of the Bible. But, the early Israelites learned through oral recitation using the memory aid tool: “abecedaries,” just like children today learn their A-B-C’s in a sing-song fashion. All 176 verses of this psalm remind us of the steadfast love of God and His Word and mention the Word of God in nearly each stanza. 

Martin Luther memorized this entire psalm, and as a monk, he followed the pattern to recite long passages of scripture. He found Psalm 119 was easy to memorize because of its sing-song pattern. What a great challenge for us! Just as the psalmist said, those who are blessed are blameless and obedient to the law of the Lord. They choose to observe God’s rules and seek Him with their whole heart.

The psalmist knew the principle of 2Tim 3:16 “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof correction, and training in righteousness.” Take time to walk through each stanza for your edification so that you might know who God is and what He does through the hearts and minds of those who taste and see that the Lord is good.

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The Gospel Message

Jesus is the Light

Advent Series #2: 1John 1-2

The Apostle John authored five books in the NT. John, along with his brother James fished the Sea of Galilee as part of the family business. Yet, when Christ said, “follow me,” he left it all behind. He never looked back but became the disciple whom Jesus loved and was the only one not martyred for his faith.

John began his first book with the words: “in the beginning,” and his full purpose was to proclaim the truth about Christ and His life as well as challenge us to follow Him fully. John’s message was that Jesus was the Word with God, life eternal, and He is light.

As the angels rejoiced, so should we because Jesus was and is faithful and righteous, forgiving our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. He is our advocate with the Father. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world. 

Have you met Him? Without him, Advent has no meaning.  Come to him and know of him that you may have eternal life. 

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Is your light under a bushel?

Ps 22 & Ps 78 The psalmist says we are to tell the next generation about the Lord and his saving deeds and what he has accomplished. We can’t pass that job off onto the preacher or the missionary because the psalmist says, “we” will tell. Jesus said to “go and tell.” How many of us are like those who say, “my faith is personal, I don’t share it, I just live it?  Jesus left us a commandment: go and make disciples. That means we do just that; we tell about God’s saving grace.

Do we realize that God will hold us accountable for lives who would have chosen Jesus had they had heard the gospel message? The psalmist says to tell the next generation so that the truth will be heard from us to the next generation.   They need to hear from our lips the truth of the gospel message. We also need to do that so that they will not be lost and without hope.

Psalm 78:6 says to tell the next generation, and they, in turn, will tell the next generation about Jesus. If each generation carries on this tradition, imagine how many souls will hear the gospel? And in contrast, if we don’t tell how many souls will enter a Christ-less eternity because we have failed in our responsibility?

Today I challenge you to tell someone about Jesus.

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How’s Your Vision?

Ps 13 to 15 “Through God’s Eyes”

Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could see with God’s eyes? Instead, God says trust me, for I see not as man sees. King David reflected on his world around him and viewed with a renewed vision exactly what God saw. First, he saw men like blameless Job who probably wondered ‘how long.’ Then he saw men who were fools because although the creation screams God’s power and majesty, they refuse to bow the knee to Him. Lastly, he saw men of integrity as he examined their character.

Seeing with God’s Eyes about the past: God was faithful in the past and will be faithful in the future; therefore, we can trust Him.

Seeing with God’s eyes about men: Ps 14: Men are fools! They ignore the evidence before them. Although they are wicked and deny God, those who have chosen His way can say with assurance: He is our shelter.

Seeing with God’s eyes about ourselves: Ps 15: O God, I see it now! I may someday enter your presence because I have chosen Your way, Your standards, Your path. I want God, who sees all things.

Beloved, are you asking God to help you see with His eyes, or are you still satisfied to see with seeing with your earthly vision?

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