Daily Devotions - Entries tagged "John"

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last -- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other.

So far this week, we've talked about: 1) Jesus' call for us to bear fruit, 2) the need to abide in Him through trusting and obeying His commands, and 3) the fact that God does prune our lives through testing and trials in order that we bear more fruit.

As we look again at John 15:1-17, we can begin to get an idea of the specific type of fruit Jesus is talking about. In verses 9-10 and again in verses 12-13, we see the extended fruit of radical and selfless love in the lives of believers who are abiding in Christ. In verse 11, we see the fruit of joy, a courageous and hopeful satisfaction in the person of Jesus and in the expectation that He will be faithful to us, both now and in eternity.

There's another passage I'd like us to consider in this context as well: Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Here we see love and joy as the first and second fruit of a life of abiding in Christ and powered by the Holy Spirit. In total, all of the characteristics of the Spirit-led life found here in Galatians provide a portrait of the character of Jesus and the life He intends for us as we abide in Him.

All of us come to Jesus with our own weaknesses, hurts and struggles, imperfections, and sinful patterns of selfishness and pride. And it can be discouraging that as we attempt to follow Jesus and live out our faith, we sometimes struggle with some of the same issues and patterns we brought into the spiritual life. Nevertheless, John 15 and Galatians 5 both offer great hope that as we abide more and more in Christ, these spiritual fruits -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- will grow in us more and more.

As we abide in Jesus, with His Spirit within us, His life and His character will progressively replace ours and we will bring glory to Him in our lives!

Dear Father,

I continue to struggle, but I know You are able to do great things and produce fruit in my life. Give me the confidence in You to know that You are working and pruning and growing Jesus in me day-by-day, as I abide in Him.

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

The Old Testament writers frequently used the vine to describe Israel. Throughout the history of the Jewish nation, there was a failure to produce fruit. Here now, Jesus describes Himself -- as the "True" Vine -- in contrast to the inconsistent and wandering nation of Israel. He has and will, He says, continue to produce fruit as God intended.

He also mentions God the Father as the Vinedresser -- as One intentionally caring for and working with the vine in order that fruit might be produced.

Lastly, He identifies His followers as branches that are called to bear choice fruit. He tells us that this fruit is a direct result of the degree to which His followers "abide in Him." In other words, we be fruitful to the same the degree that we cultivate intimacy with Him and are developing a relationship with Him in day-by-day obedience to His Word (verse 10).

As followers of Christ, we should expect to produce spiritual fruit -- to see the life of Jesus lived out in our lives -- as we commit our time, energy, and resources to grow in our trust and obedience to Him.

When we read this passage, we have the responsibility to ask ourselves some honest questions: Do I see this spiritual fruit in my life? If so, I can humbly thank God for His work in my life and I can be reminded that it is His work in me that brings fruit, not me trying really hard to be fruitful. On the other hand, if I am not seeing this fruit, these verses tell me that it is not a matter of trying more; it's a matter of abiding more.

Today, as we consider this passage, we need to honestly look at our lives and consider: Am I organizing my time and my energy in a way that allows me to daily spend time with the Word, and time in prayer and reflection? If not, we can pray for God's strength and the resolve to abide more.

Dear Father,

I know You have destined me to faithfulness. Help me to trust You with my schedule and with my priorities. Give me Your wisdom, strength and courage to abide more, so that You might produce more of the fruit that lasts in my life.

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Ah the life. Sitting in the sand, toes in the water, a gentle breeze, a cool drink in my hand. Now that’s the life, right? Sounds nice, but something tells me it’s not the life Jesus was talking about in verse 6. He was talking about life in Him. He was talking about following His way, leading people out of darkness by sharing with them the Truth, and helping them discover the way to Life eternal.

Jesus taught us to lead a life of service. Among His last acts before His crucifixion was to wash his disciples’ feet. One of His last instructions was this new commandment, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35, NIV).

And in another of the Gospels, we find this directive by Jesus to His followers, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Paul, following Jesus’ command, was stoned, beaten, jailed, shipwrecked, left for dead, and finally executed -- all while living the Life. Paul lived a big life.

Jesus did not call us to a life of leisure. He called us to a life of living, of doing, of being more than just us. He called us to a life in a broken world, filled with messed-up people who desperately need to be saved from their sin-controlled lives and  who need to be loved. He called us to look after widows and orphans, to give water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, to give the clothes off our backs and to go the extra mile. He called us to serve because we love him and because He commanded us to love one another as He loves us.

Sitting on the beach with my toes in the water sounds pretty perfect for a brief moment, but we have been called to live a bigger life, the life Jesus has given us, a life of service and a life of love.

Father,

You have called me and commanded me to love You with all my heart, to love others as myself and to serve. I want this Father. I want to live a big life. You know the strengths, weaknesses and abilities I have. Help me to find a place where I can serve and love You through my love and service to others. Don’t let fear stand in my way. I love you Father.

Amen

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

⁹Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? ¹⁰Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. ¹¹ Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

¹²“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. ¹³You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

What is the way? Boats, planes, cars and even people are guided today using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. Our GPS devices employ satellite triangulation technology to pinpoint an exact location of where something is on planet Earth. Those directions can help us find the way to get from where we are to where we want to go. And even when we make a wrong turn, or stray off our path, our GPS doesn’t lose sight of our ultimate destination -- and quickly recalculates to get us back on course.

When Jesus declares, “I am the Way,” He is, in one way, like our GPS that shows us how to get from our present location to our ultimate destination -- eternity with Him. When we stray from the way, He provides a recalculated route to get us back onto the path.

Of course, unlike the GPS in your car, the signals Jesus uses to get us back on course come from many sources. They could come from a gentle nudging from the Holy Spirit, or from a Bible verse you have read a thousand times before, but suddenly has new relevance. It could even be a hardship, resulting from our own sin, or an unexpected call from a concerned friend. He is faithful to always help us find our way if we will listen.

Where are you today? If you are not on the way with Jesus, call a friend who is, or talk with one of the prayer team or staff here at the church. Jesus is the Way.

Father,

I, like everyone around me, am a sinner. Every day I fall short of the purpose for which You created me. I love You Father and I am sorry. Thank You for the gift of grace that allows me to go on and start again. Thank You that my future is secure in You.

Amen

The “I AM” message series continues next Sunday as Pastor Rob returns to teach on Jesus’ words in John 14:6,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

¹“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.

⁹Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? ¹⁰Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. ¹¹ Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

¹²“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. ¹³You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Just before Jesus had the conversation we’ve just read, He performed the ultimate act of servanthood and of love by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). He then tells them of His pending betrayal (13:18–30), and even tells Peter that he is going to deny his Lord. Jesus also makes it very clear He will be leaving them soon (vs. 33 and following).

At that point, the disciples are off balance, not sure what all that Jesus is telling them means, not sure what to do or think. Jesus sees their confusion and understands their fears. With the love of a teacher, He begins to reassure them. In John 14:1–4, we read His words of comfort.

“Don’t be afraid,” He says. “You can trust Me.” Then He tells them that He is going ahead to prepare a place for them, and that He will come back for them, and He and assures them that they know the way.

Fear sets in as they understand that Jesus is really going to leave them, and they experience that gut-gripping sensation of loss, uncertainty, and confusion. Thomas verbalizes the question that others were probably thinking, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus responds with those words we know so well: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Many of us have seen life from both sides, as a non-believer and as a believer. Life as a non-believer has little to offer in those times when we are knocked off balance, as Jesus’ disciples were. For them it was a sudden fear that this One, Who they had left all to follow, was about to desert them.

For us today it could be a circumstance like a lost job, a sudden illness, a broken marriage, or another crushing loss that causes us to be gripped with fear. For the person without Christ, there is no hope and no place to turn -- though some try turning to alcohol, drugs and other destructive behavior.

For the believer, these life crises are no less painful. But in Christ we do have hope. Jesus gives us that hope. He is the great I AM. Through prayer, and with the support of His church -- our community of believers -- we are able to look fear and hopelessness in the eye, and say, “There is no place for you in my life. In Jesus name, I have hope. I have the Way.”

Father,

There are so many times I fail, and I have turned away yet You are always faithful, always present, always loving. You are a present help in a time of great darkness. Help me in my darkness to seek out Your light and place my trust and hope in You. You are my only hope.

Amen

This week we are reading John 10:1–15, focusing today on verses 14 and 15. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

Two key phrases cap this beautiful story of our Good Shepherd:  1) I know you, Jesus tells us, As the Father knows me, and 2) I love you enough to lay down My life for you.

What a combination — to be fully known and wholly loved! Known as intimately as the all-knowing God knows His only Son! And loved with a pure and perfect sacrificial love.

Could Jesus really know me — with all my flaws, my selfishness, my repeated failures — and still love me enough to willingly lay down His life just for me? The answer, John 10 tells us is “Yes!” and “Yes!”

Jesus,

Thank You for the picture You show me in these verses about You, my Good Shepherd, and all it teaches me about your love and care for me. Help me to keep these words in my heart and never forget Your amazing love.

This week we are reading John 10:1–15, focusing today on verses 12 and 13. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! ² But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

⁶Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, ⁷so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. ⁹Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

¹⁰The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. ¹²A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the

flock. ¹³The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, ¹⁵just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

Verses 12 and 13 introduce another character in Jesus parable. So far we’ve heard about the thief who wants to creep in and steal, kill, and destroy. Then, there’s the central character, the Good Shepherd Who loves His sheep so much that He lays down His life for them.

Then, in John 10:12, we learn about the hired hand. On the surface, he has the very same assignment as the Shepherd — to care for the sheep.

What a difference there is between the two! While the Good Shepherd lays down his life on behalf of His sheep, the hireling is much more concerned about himself and his own safety, running away at the first sign of danger — and the sheep under his care suffer the consequences. Same assignment, very different outcome.

The question we need to ask: Is our trust and confidence resting on the Good Shepherd Who will never leave us or forsake us, and Whose very life was laid down on our behalf? Or are we trusting in a far less dependable substitute — placing our confidence in people who can fail us, or in the safety and security of a good job or a healthy bank account, or even in our own health and strength?

Placing our trust in anyone or anything but our Good Shepherd is like depending on that hired hand who will vanish just when you need him most. Every human being is flawed. You know that about ourselves, and we probably have experienced the results of sin damage in the lives of others. We may have been deeply hurt — or at the very least disappointed at one time or another — by the words or actions of people in our lives.

It’s a fact. Jobs can end. A financial safety net can evaporate. Health and strength can deteriorate overnight. Relationships fail. People can disappoint. But what a contrast there is between even the “good” people and “good” things in our lives and the Good Shepherd.

His love is pure, untainted by any of the kind of selfish motives that the hired hand demonstrated, caring only for himself and running away when the sheep needed him most.

Jesus,

I want to put my trust fully in You. Thank You for all the material blessings You’ve given me, and for the people who care about me. But help me to not let those relationships and things take the place of trust that You alone should hold. Protect me and keep me in Your all-sufficient care. Heal the hurts that people have left in my life, and help me to rest today in Your loving care. Thank You for being the One Who alone is worthy of my trust.

Amen

Today we are reading John 10:1–15. The text below is taken from the NIV, but feel free to read from the translation of your choice.

As He often did, Jesus is using a parable — a story with a deeper meaning — to teach spiritual truth. In this case, His parable was about a Shepherd and His sheep — and the robbers, thieves and strangers that threatened them. His words left many in His audience confused, particularly the Pharisees who were listening in (verse 6).

Their inability to understand the symbolism of Jesus words was an indication of spiritual blindness. But Jesus wanted to make His message clear and understandable, so He graciously interpreted the spiritual truth of the parable. In that way, His listeners — and readers down through the centuries — could understand His teachings if they chose to do so.

For the religious leaders of His day — and for many people today — the issue comes down to a willingness to hear His voice.

God continues to speak through His Word to those who come with a spiritually sincere heart. He graciously offers all the wisdom and understanding we need, if only we will hear it.

As we read the Scriptures, and as we hear from God in other ways, may His Word and His Spirit’s nudges and whispers fall on open ears and responsive hearts.

Father,

Help me to hear what You are saying to me in Your Word. Don’t let me be like some in your audience that day, who rejected You and missed the meaning of what You were teaching them. Open my ears to hear and understand what You are saying to me, and soften my heart to respond to what You say. And if I don’t get it the first time around — please teach me again.

Amen.

¹“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! ²But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

⁶Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, ⁷so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. ⁹Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. ¹⁰The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

When Jesus taught through the use of parables, as He does here, it was often the case that many people didn’t understand. That’s what’s happened when He told the parable of the Good Shepherd. As we read in verse 6, they didn’t get it. So He explained it to them, in the words recorded in verse 7 and following, beginning with this statement:  “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.”

To His listeners there in Jerusalem, those words may have brought a comforting and familiar picture to mind. They might have imagined one of the shepherds on a nearby hillside actually sleeping in the doorway of a rough hewn outdoor sheep pen as the sheep were gathered for the night. During the summer months, it would not be uncommon for sheep to be kept out in the fields to graze for long periods of time, watched over by a shepherd who stayed with them. That shepherd would build a rough enclosure out of trees limbs, laying thorny branches on the top to discourage wild animals from climbing over

That image — of Jesus placing Himself between His sheep and all the dangers that threaten in the dark of night — is certainly a comforting one. But there is another truth here that cannot be missed: Jesus is the passageway for His sheep, who enter the fold through Him. Here Jesus makes an exclusive claim to be the door for the sheep — the great and only mediator between God and man.

Some people may wish to believe that everyone is a child of God, welcomed in as the sheep of His pastures — especially those who follow the religious rules, live clean lives, and give to the poor. But this pivotal truth, which Jesus repeats throughout His teachings, is that He, and He alone, is the way of salvation. As He says in John 14:6, “No man comes to the father but by me.”

Father,

Thank You for sending Jesus to earth, to make a way for me to become Your child. Thank You for making me clean and holy in Your sight through His perfect sacrifice for my sin. Thank You for the good news that salvation is not something that I need to earn, but is a gracious free gift to be accepted and embraced.

Amen

¹“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ²The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s faithful people looked to the day when the Messiah would come. He would be God’s own Shepherd, sent by the Father to care for His people — to guide, protect, lead, and love them — even lay down His life for them.

In John 10:2, that long-awaited Shepherd-Messiah is recognized and welcomed through the door of the sheepfold. Here Jesus identifies Himself, not as one of the thieves and robbers who sneak in over the fence to do harm, but as the True Shepherd who is welcomed in to take His rightful place and minister to His flock.

This is the Shepherd of the Psalmist and other Old Testament writers. This is the Shepherd who would make them lie down in green pastures, lead them beside still waters, and restore their souls, provide  for their every need, and faithfully walk with them through dark valleys, comfort and protect them. This is a Shepherd worth following.

Sent by the Father, the Messiah-Shepherd has all His credentials in order. He is recognized by the watchman, who swings open the gate and welcomes Him into the sheepfold. This is no stranger, randomly assigned to care for this flock. This Shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name! He knows them intimately and personally — knows what they need, knows where they hurt, knows how they’ve failed and the sin struggles that have dominated their lives. He knows it all — and He cares.

Many people today are looking for spiritual satisfaction through following a creed or trying to “live right,” but all is ultimately meaningless spiritual activity outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Knowing and being known — it’s a truth that resonates in the hearts of all who hear it. If you have heard Him call your name and followed Him out in faith, then you know and understand.

Father,

Thank You for knowing me and loving me just as I am. Help me to hear Your voice and follow You, even when other voices try to distract and call me away from Your path. Thank You for sending Jesus to bring me the promise of eternal life. Just as I have welcomed you into my heart, today and in the days to come, I want to welcome You into my life. Day-by-day, hour-by-hour, even minute-by-minute, Lord, help me to rest in Your leading and trust in Your loving, all-sufficient care.

Amen.

As we prepare our hearts for Sunday’s message by Pastor Rob, this week we are reflecting on Jesus’ words in John 8:12 (NLT):

12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Sky Jethani in his book, The Divine Commodity, writes about Ghassan Thomas, a pastor in Baghdad. After Saddam Hussein was overthrown, Thomas’ newly established congregation placed a sign on their building that said, “Jesus Is the Light of the World.” Not long afterward, someone trashed the church and replaced the sign with: “Jesus is not the light of the world, Allah is, and you have been warned.” The message was signed, “The Islamic Shiite Party.”

Pastor Ghassan responded by driving to the Islamic Shiite Party headquarters in a van loaded with gifts for children and critically needed medical supplies for those injured in the war. He told the sheikh, “Christians have love for you, because our God is a God of love.” Then, after having received permission, he read John 8:12.

After showing the sheikh the sign that the vandals had left, the Muslim leaders apologized. “This will not happen again. You are my brother. If anyone comes to kill you, it will be my neck first,” he promised.

Sometime later, when the church ordained Thomas, guess who attended? The sheikh!

Ghassan Thomas brought the light of Jesus Christ into a dark situation. Jesus is Light. His followers reflect His light.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8, the apostle Paul clearly states that followers of Christ “are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. . . . Let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Let’s live today in the Light and as light to a world that desperately needs it.

Father,
Thank you that I am a child of the Light and no longer belong to the darkness. Help me today to demonstrate Your faith, Your hope, Your love — and Your light — to the world around me. Strengthen me by Your grace to face any challenges that come my way.
Amen

This week we are reading John 8:12 and other passages in John’s Gospel where Jesus identifies Himself as “the light.” Today we’ll read John 8:12-30. The text below is taken from the New International Version, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

21Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25?Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26?I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

On July 4th weekend each year, when we gaze up into the evening sky, what traditional event changes all that blackness? Fireworks, of course! And what are fireworks? Explosions of light. Startling bursts of color. Sound is important, too, but it is the sky-filling light displays that cause the “wows!” and “awesomes!”

In our verse for this week Jesus Christ says, “I am the light of the world.” Speaking during a festival in Jerusalem, He is addressing an audience that included religious leaders who recognized the significance of His assertion — His claim to be “the light” — by which He further identified Him as the expected Messiah. They weren’t happy about what they heard. Note the way they challenge Him in verse 13.

But He wasn’t deterred, later repeating those same words in John 9:5, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Even the apostle John, who wrote this book about Jesus, recognized Jesus as “the light.” Starting in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, he is talking about Jesus when he says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (1:4).

So what does it mean when Jesus says, “I am the light of the world”? Keep in mind that our sun, which provides light for the earth is not the speaker — Jesus is. Think of it! The One Who stated, “I am the light,” is the same One who created the orb that brings light to our entire solar system. That truth is affirmed in John 1:3, where John refers to Christ when he says, “Through Him were all things made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”

And most importantly, He is the One who brings spiritual light into our sin-darkened world, offering us deliverance from the blackness of sin and light for our path every day.

Father,
Thank You that Jesus came to bring Your light into my life. I praise you that I can trust You to light my way today. You are Light and Your Word is a faithful guide for me to follow.
Amen