Walk in the Light

Write From My Heart / January 24, 2021 / Walk in the Light

1 John 1:5-9 (NLT) This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

            Most readers of this devotional series are not convicted murderers. Wow, what an opening sentence! Seriously, when we think of sin we often only think of the really atrocious things like murder, theft, and other things obviously abhorrent in any normal society. However when we consider that sin is ANYthing that leads us away from God’s light—the light we have through salvation in Christ—then we have much more thinking to do. If we agree that the Fruit of the Spirit is “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” then we must also agree that sin is anything leading to hatred, bitterness, discontentment, rudeness, those things questionable or objectionable, harshness, and undisciplined actions. It includes things like malice, but also envy. It includes hatred, but also gossip. It includes rudeness, but also snippy or insulting remarks. This puts things in a little different perspective for us. I think that is one reason I appreciate the reminder that “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”

            We have wonderful news! For there is salvation through Christ that cleanses us from all of our sins and failures that lead us away from God’s light. Through Christ we can find the light of God’s word in our hearts. What a beautiful light that is! In closing, I would like to share the words from an old familiar hymn:

“Walk in the Light” words by Asa Hull, 19^th century

 

Walk in the light the Lord hath given, to guide your steps aright;

His Holy Spirit sent from heaven, can cheer the darkest night.

Walk in the light of gospel truth, that shines from God’s own Word;

A light to guide in early youth the faithful of the Lord.

Walk in the light! tho’ shadows dark like spectres cross you way;

Darkness will flee before the light of God’s eternal day.

Walk in the light—the beautiful light of God.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive those things in our lives that lead us away from you. Guide us to show the light of your Word to a world still living in darkness.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.

Christ Comforts His Disciples

Write From My Heart / January 23, 2021 / Christ Comforts His Disciples

John 14:1 (NIV) Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

John 14:26-27 (NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 15:18-21 (NIV) If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. … If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. …They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

John 16:1, 33 (NIV) All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. … I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

            As the earthly ministry of Christ was drawing to a close, he spent much of his remaining time explaining to his disciples how rough things would be for them. Take time to read chapters 14-17 of John. Although these are the words of Christ directly to his disciples, they bring comfort and hope to all the generations of believers past, present, and yet to come.

            Even with the pandemic, our nation has enjoyed a few years of peace and prosperity that many of us have taken for granted. Now that peace and prosperity is unwinding more rapidly than one could possibly imagine. Changes are happening. Not all changes will be good ones. Nevertheless, Christ is with us through the Holy Spirit dwelling within the heart of every believer. We have the peace of Christ and that is something the world does not understand. Troubling times may be in our future, and Christians may face a time of persecution that we in our nation have not yet had to face. We are told to remain firm, to remain steadfast, to not go astray.

            I have no idea what the future holds for the world or even what the future holds for our own nation. But I do know this: Christ has overcome the world! In Christ we have peace.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you for quieting our trouble hearts with your peace. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us so that we will not go astray. Grant that we would remain steadfast in you.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.

God's Unusual Choices

Write From My Heart / January 22, 2021 / God’s Unusual Choices

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT) [NIV notations added] Remember dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful [influential] or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless [weak] to shame those who are powerful [strong]. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

            The Apostle Paul has a very unique writing style—almost like a game of volley ball, tennis, or ping pong. One of the clearest examples of this writing style can be found when Paul explains what it is like to want to do good but being unable to maintain it. [Rom. 7:18-19 For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.]  It’s almost like a parent telling a child, “Tie your shoe so you don’t trip and fall, because if you leave it untied you might trip and fall.”  Once you get a sense of Paul’s writing style, then passages such as today’s text become a little easier to understand.

            To be clear, the early church during Paul’s time did have many noble and highly influential people accepting the teachings of Christ. Many commentaries list names from all levels of society to demonstrate support of this point. However for the most part the early churches consisted of slaves, uneducated, and people of little or no influential status in their locale. These people were considered (for all intents and purposes) worthless. Becoming Christian was a life-changing experience. Then, just as it is today, coming to salvation through Christ brings value, respect, and worth to each and every one of us. How amazing to be among those whom God values enough to give the gift of his only begotten Son! How amazing to be among those whom God chooses to claim as his own.

            The world does not understand this paradox. To the world, those who are affluent, self-assertive, highly decorated or recognized in certain societal circles—those are the people who matter; those are the people who are worth something. But to Christ, you and I matter! You and I are precious in his sight. Each of us has value, and God chooses to use each of us in a wide variety of ways. Those in the world will boast and take pride in their own accomplishments. We are different. Any boasting comes as a direct result of God’s strength, and our pride comes only in willing obedience to the opportunities God provides.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            On days when we are feeling low, remind us of the value we have in you. Remind us how useful we are to you and that we can be your chosen light within a world full of darkness.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.