I was reading an old article entitled “England Before And After Wesley,” and how dramatically the doctrine of grace banished the darkness with light. For example, slavery was rampant in England, Wesley bravely condemned it, and by early in the 19th century, William Wilberforce and Hannah More helped bring it to an end.
All the Victorian rules had not brought light to the darkness, but grace did, and John and Charles Wesley were key in that great evangelical awakening. I love Charles Wesley’s hymns for they are so saturated with Scripture. What can compare with the lyrics to, for example of: And Can It Be?
But surely another is one that is sung around the world every Christmas:
This carol goes so perfectly with the Scripture we will contemplate this week from the opening of 1 John. I memorized 1 John a few years back and keep it fresh because honestly, it has impacted my walk more than anything else I know. And now I am applying Keller’s contemplation questions to it, and indeed, it is helping to keep me in the light, by overcoming my strong penchant to deny darkness in my heart and to repent more quickly. I’ve always loved the name Zechariah gave the coming Messiah: “The Sunrise from on High” – when we come before the Son, who is Light and Life, He will banish the darkness in our hearts that keeps us from seeing.
For example, my strongest spiritual gifting is prophesy — not the foretelling of God’s words, but the forth-telling of the truth He has already given us in His Word. I am grateful for this gift, but every spiritual gift has a weakness (which is why we need the Body.) A prophet often can see the thing that is wrong in a situation or an individual and points it out, often, lacking grace. I must look in the mirror and see what I look like:
So for me, to apply “walking in the light as He is in the light,” I must not only look at someone with truth, but with grace. I must get into his or her shoes and understand why they do or say the things they do. Just recently this helped me so much in a relationship with a friend I truly love. I had been upset with her for a few months over something she did, but was trying to overlook the hurt in love. But I found I just kept going over it in my mind, which is not good for a relationship. When I applied the contemplation questions to 1 John 1, I was convicted that I must be judging her unfairly, for I know her, I know she is a woman of God. Something my dad used to say came to mind: “Don’t judge someone on the basis of their weakest moment.” I decided I needed to talk to her because there must be a piece of information I didn’t have for why she did what she did. And there was! I can’t tell you details, except that she was honoring her husband and was in a tight spot. It so helped me to give her grace and let it go.
I must get in the light when there is conflict. I must consider the log in my own eye before trying to remove the splinter in theirs. I must give them the same grace that I would want, and that describes Jesus:
For others of you, perhaps with the gift of mercy, you neglect truth. If a friend confides in you that she is a terrible mother, instead of helping her repent, you tell her she’s a wonderful mother, even if you know she is not! Truth without grace is cruel, and grace without truth is enabling.
In case you want to print these contemplation questions, here they are: Contemplation questions.
The following from The Gospel Coalition is an Advent special that is the best I’ve seen. I wept, I had goosebumps, and I absolutely loved the poetry on Hannah and Mary’s Magnificat. And “Future of Forestry” was so wonderful I’ve just downloaded both of his Advent albums. You just have to watch. If you do, share what you like best. And if you don’t, I’m shaking my finger at you like in the picture above!!! (You can also find it by going to You-Tube and typing in Songs of Hope TGC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciSs4cMQ47M&t=2339s
Let us contemplate these weighty passages together, and solidify them with this great carol!
Sunday: Getting Started
- What stands out to you from the above, and why?
- What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
- During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
Monday/Tuesday: Hail the Incarnate Deity!
The opening of John’s gospel and his 1st letter are very similar. Astounding news. I will never forget when my dear friend Debbie was in our seeker’s study. We had just read John’s prologue: “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
She cried, “My head hurts!” How could Jesus have been born at Christmas yet have made the world?”
I thought, Oh Lord, her head hurts because she is in the birth canal. Please deliver her! And, He did!
Tim Keller says that while the gospels describe how Jesus came, John’s letter describes why He came. This is optional listening, but I do think it will help illumine your study. “The Meaning of Christmas”
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
E. Why are You telling me this today?
7. Part C. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 2nd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold He’ll come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Wednesday/Thursday: Hail The Sun of Righteousness!
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
E. Why are You telling me this today?
10. Part III. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 3rd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace
Hail, the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Friday/Saturday: Finishing Up and Impact
11. How did this impact you this week?
102 comments
What stood out?
Dee, thank you for calling attention to these Advent Songs of Hope by the Gospel Coalition. I plan to listen to it through this coming week. I fast forwarded to Mary’s Magnificat, poem recitation by Blair Linne. Profoundly moving.
“To heal the clef in our soul, the Composer has become what He has made, a lowly babe reliant upon His Abba’s formula, birthed on the throne of His father David…..”
One of my guitar students requested to learn a new Christmas song last week ~ one I had never heard, but in part the lyrics are set to the tune of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
Song is titled This is Jesus .
Rejoice He is with us. Rejoice He is here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAsmsVudnrU
Thank you, Dee, for the recommendation of the new biography of Elizabeth Elliot. The most detailed account of her life I have ever read. (My husband and I were a part of a church in Wyoming years ago where Elizabeth’s brother Jim was the pastor. Elizabeth came to speak one Sunday, but I was giving birth to our youngest son and unable to attend.)
Thank you for your faithful encouragement here, Dee.
Thank you for sharing that song. It is beautiful. Especially the repetition of “He is with us”.
Thanks, Nila! I have never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful!
Oh, Nila — I so loved that too by Blair Linn. Amazing words and presentation. So moved.
Great song your guitar student found- I hadn’t heard it either.
Sunday: Getting Started
1. What stands out to you from the above, and why?
“I had been upset with her for a few months over something she did, but was trying to overlook the hurt in love.”
This made me think about how easily I too “try” to live out the Gospel, instead of allowing the Gospel to live out of me. Isn’t amazing that right when we do finally speak up and are completely honest in our confession of our weakness and sin, that’s when God’s grace flows: from us, through us and to us.
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
At a discipleship training course, the visiting teacher drew me aside to tell me I had a prophetic gifting. I have also been told I have an intercessory gifting, the gift of teaching and the gift of mercy.
My weakness is the fear of man. I hate confrontation, but in the prophetic gifting God has given me I have had to repeatedly speak truth in grace with really hard consequences. I repeatedly told God I couldn’t, but He burned my heart with the Scriptures so very much, that I couldn’t help but share them. Sadly, there have been times I have renegged on a Word God gave me to avoid confrontation with those in authority over me.
There were several months at my old church, where I spent many hours on a bench pouring out my heart. I would start with hatred and unforgiveness for those who chose to reject or ignore the Words given. Then, God would put up a mirror to my face through Scriptures He gifted me and cause me to begin praying for them, as my tears for myself turned to tears for them. He gave me His heart for them.
About two years after leaving my old church, I was running in the forest and my former pastor and his family came to mind, and I began weeping in great pain, praying over and over again for mercy to flow. Days later, I learnt he had been asked to leave my old church with his family in a deeply painful breaking, right around when I had been praying. I hadn’t prayed for him in a while, so the timing was incredible. God sees. God knows. God cares.
The strength of my gifting is, I think, its intimate connection to prayer and the Word. The weakness: pride and the fear of man.
3. During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
I am going to think some more about this / pray about it.
And thank you so much for the link to that Christmas video. I watched part of it – loved hearing the Aussie speak of a summer Christmas and his poem was so beautiful. This especially:
“He’s born to the shameful
Bends to the weak
Becomes the lowly
The God who cannot speak.”
Just touched me so much. He truly entered every part of our humanity. It also reminds me of the verse God has repeatedly spoken over me:
Proverbs 31:8-10
Common English Bible
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[a]9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousnessand to defend the needy and the poor.
He keeps reminding me of the Word I spoke before my parents and that about twenty years later it was fulfilled. And to remember that HIS timing is perfect and to see with the eyes of heaven when things fall apart here.
I look forward to listening to more and sending it to friends also. Thank you, Dee.
Quite a story about your pastor and how God led you to pray.
And Anna — I loved that poem so much I began our little house church with it this morning as our theme was light to our darkness and we each were sharing, as we lit a candle, how Jesus has been a light to our darkness this year.
I love that. My parent’s church plant in Germany started as a house church. They were like family to us kids. I have such warm memories of those years together.
Dad has since remarried to a former member of that church, who used to look after us kids for Mum and Dad on a regular basis. She is so sweet. He also told me that one of the people he led to faith and baptized back then now heads up the Alpha course for the whole of Germany. It so touched him, as when he looked back on that time, he could see so much of his own immaturity. But God’s not put off by that- He loves our passion and even works through our mistakes.
It so blessed me, but sadly I then began to expect God to restore my relationship with them, upon them leaving. But He then in fact moved to sever all my ties with my friend and her church I had been attending sporadically, when my former pastor began attending that church with his family.
I got to hug his wife, for which I will always be so thankful. She hugged me tightly too. I now see though that God was looking out for us both. We both have so much healing to go through and God knew to protect that process. In heaven I will get to hug them again and see all restored. This is the thing I think I find hardest with this gifting – the severing to enable the fruit to come (not just in others, but in me too).
The hope: In heaven I will get to hug them and all will be restored.
Sunday: Getting Started
What stands out to you from the above, and why?
I took time this afternoon to listen to the Gospel Coalition Advent concert “Songs of Hope”. That stands out in so many ways. What a blessing !!! Where do I even begin. It is very rich with a wonderful variety of styles and Biblical themes along with the Advent scriptures interspersed. I loved the poem by Glen Scrivener “ Christmas In Dark Places” A new thought for me having Christmas pointed out as coming in dark times and places. Beautiful! And I particularly love piano music. Yes Future of Forestry is wonderful and his singing and playing the piano thrilled my soul. I thought Blair Linne’s “Mary’s Song on the Magnificat was especially rich in analogy and truth. I really enjoyed Poor Bishop Hooper’s “Christ” on the lineage of Jesus. The musical technology was amazing. Yes, Well I was certainly blessed today. I finished my bible reading of the New Testament for the year this morning which was the end of The Revelation. Our worship service was particularly good this morning and my son’s message from Isaiah 56-57 was powerful. Then this wonderful Advent concert. It was all about Jesus. We live in dark times just like when He first came to earth. My heart is full with the reality of his coming to earth as a baby and the promise of his coming back to make all things new. But in between He died and rose again to bring us eternal life. I can’t praise Him enough!
What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
I feel when I am in a position to encourage others in their walk with the Lord and speak His Truth to them I sense God’s Spirit. But if I am not careful I can be too preachy. I hate being misunderstood and at times I am not as articulate as I wish I could be. Listening well is my weakness. Writing my thoughts often is easier than speaking them but I do find joy in affirming and loving people.
During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord tfor wisdom.)
During the lockdown last Spring and Summer I briefly became frustrated and edgy but God in His grace reminded me of so many blessings in my life in spite of Covid and in many ways his provision and was overwhelmingly gracious in the area of family and friends. I truly believe the isolation is a very destructive thing in our lives. And without Him there is no real help to meet the needs of our souls. But most importantly it was His Word that carried me. The Scriptures are so powerful to encourage and strengthen me and keep me focused on the Lord. When I feel myself slipping toward a dark place I know I have to get alone and get with God and into His Word.
What you mentioned Bev were all my favorites parts. Wasn’t it just wonderful?
Sunday: Getting Started
What stands out to you from the above, and why?
“Truth without grace is cruel, and grace without truth is enabling.” I need to have a balance of truth and grace. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14
What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
My strongest spiritual gift is mercy. Thank you, Dee, for enlightening me on this. I can see the weakness of being merciful. Not wanting to hurt people, I hesitate to tell the truth. I also realized that when I do that, I give into the idol of approval.
The gift of mercy has helped me care for my patients and be truly empathetic with their needs.
Lord, help me to be truthful while being gracious to others. Help me to reflect Jesus in my life.
During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
Yes, I tend to love conditionally. And to judge others in my mind. The Lord is sifting my motives these days. For man’s applause of for God as my one and only audience? Not to (me,) not to (me) but to your name because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1
I also listened to the TGC Advent Special and liked the Future of Forestry, too!
Bing — I like your weakness better than mine! 🙂
I just downloaded Future of Forestry’s Christmas albums. So good. I had to look up how they got that title — from a C.S. Lewis poem!
Whoops! I posted here but it should be below on my post…sorry!
Oh yeah, after the Advent special it took me to an Alisa Childers podcast that was pretty amazing too! Didn’t you have us watch a clip of her a few weeks back? Dry eye opening! I enjoyed that one too…hahaha!
I listened to the TGC Advent Special and really enjoyed it. What a good introduction to some great musicians. I found the song about the geneology of Christ very touching as well. I’ll have to look for other music from some of those musicians!
Oh my GOSH! Dee!! I haven’t watched it all yet but the man and woman who play and sing the birth line of Jesus (at about 50 min)!!! How moving to listen to 😊. To think the boring lineage that we trudge through (or, I do) SUNG so beautifully. Thank you for shaking your finger 😉.
Wasn’t it, Laura? I loved it too — so well done — and it always gives me goosebumps to realize there were 6 series of 7 generations and then Jesus was the 7th 7th — the number of completion.
1. What stands out to you from the above, and why?
You mention memorizing 1 John…you had us memorize John 1:1-14 years ago and that scripture has been my “go to” one. The problem is that I choreographed it with Proverbs 8 (intermingled) and I tend to say them together because we dance them together! Haha! The John scripture is all about the light. I love it.
I clicked on the TGC advent special and it started midway through. I wasn’t sure if you wanted us to watch from the beginning so I left it where it was and watched to the end. I need to go back and watch the first 30 minutes of it. I loved the Australian’s description of a summer Christmas (especially since I teach astronomy and never really thought too much about how brief as would be in the Southern Hemisphere) I am from Florida though and can relate to warm Christmases. I like the snow and cold ones here in NE. And, my favorite so far is Bishop Hoopers lineage of Christ! So cool.
I love the reminder of Peanuts…that was my childhood. I never thought I would say this, but what a great time the 70’s was! To think that Charles Shultz could use all the things he did in his Christmas show (Linus quoting the Bible, and Hark the Herald Angels Sung!). You could never make a Christmas special about that now…the true reason for Christmas. We have to pretend it doesn’t exist; so sad.
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
I have thought about this a lot. I don’t know if this is really my true gift, but it’s the one I have cultivated. I don’t think I have any other real gifts, myself. I am a dancer who revels in dancing liturgically. I love mostly dancing to scripture because it helps those of us who are not auditory learners, understand scripture better. The weakness is getting caught up in self (as with any type of dance). It’s definitely not about you, rather about conveying God’s Word to others.
During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
Absolutely. I have mentioned this before; anger and bitterness. I don’t want the government treading on my life. They are really overstepping their bounds right now (I also believe it is going to get worse) and I don’t like it one bit. I am not always in control. I don’t like that either. I know God is really in charge, and He is helping me know this more by reminding me.
Several “autocorrections” I missed…
it should say “how it would be in the Southern Hemisphere.”
and, of course, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing!”
What a precious gift God has given you. I so loved watching the lone dancer at my old church. You could see her pure love and devotion for Jesus in her every move.
I also loved dancing to Israeli music as a kid: a German lady in my Dad’s church plant taught us kids. I loved dancing with the long, flowing ribbons. So many precious memories. Thank you for prompting these memories.
So interesting hearing more about what you do and where you live and come from. Christmas in New Zealand is so different than here. Listening to that Aussie made me teary-eyed, homesick, while also making me feel like I was right back there as a kid, when we also lathered on the sun tan lotion, played cricket together as a family and swam at the beach.
Love how Laura and Anne loved the “Aussie” – I did too!
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
He saw, heard, looked upon and felt the incarnate Deity.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
That which was from the beginning
= Jesus has always existed, even before He came as a babe in a manger
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands
= Jesus came in human form
He is the word of life
He is eternal life
He was with the Father
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
So we can have fellowship with him and the other disciples (the Body), and with the Father through Jesus Christ.
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
To complete our joy.
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
Jesus always existed, has always been One with the Father, came in human form, is our life and our eternal destiny. In Him we have fellowship with the Father and each other as members of the Body.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Thank You, Father, for giving us Your one and only Son, so that we can have fellowship with You and with each other in and through Christ Jesus. Thank You for making our joy complete. Thank You for entering our humanity and weaknesses with Your power, for giving us Your Word of life to open our eyes to the hope of heaven that is ours, where we know we will one day all be reunited, made whole and be fully healed in body, mind and soul. Thank You that we can see, hear, touch, feel and come to know You better through those You call us to feed, give a drink, clothe, visit and love.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Father, forgive me for placing my hope in earthly things that can be eaten by moths and decay. Forgive me for focusing on what I can see, rather than on what I know by faith is true through Your Word. Forgive me for forgetting that Your Son has carried my every weakness and sin to the Cross. Forgive me for clinging to my weakness and guilt, rather than releasing myself fully into Your loving care and embracing the grace which is mine. Forgive me for trying to live in my own strength to please You, rather than bowing before You in all honesty in my need.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I focus on the brokenness in me and around me.
I doubt God’s Promises to me.
I cling to unbelief.
I obey outwardly in my own strength, denying the true state of my heart, and becoming bitter, believing God is aloof to how hard it is being human.
I cling to fear and sit still, rather than moving toward fellowship.
I don’t trust in Jesus to protect me and bring unity between myself and His Body in His Way and timing, so I retreat from fellowship or hide my weakness and sin in fellowship to avoid ever getting hurt again.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
I should continue to reach for fellowship, trusting in Jesus to help me guard my heart and to bring unity through iron sharpening iron.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
Because You want me to slow down to receive Your grace, rather than pressing through in my own strength.
7. Part C. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 2nd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold He’ll come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Father, thank You for being a with-us God. Thank You for carrying my weakness and sin to the Cross. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning. Oh LORD, make me worthy of Your calling upon my life.
Keep me humble, soft to Your leading and always looking for Your face in my husband, my children, my friends and all those You set before me. Make us One in You: in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Continue to search and know my heart. Lead me to repentance quickly and the confession of my weakness moment by moment, that I may arise in Your grace and truth and shake off the dust of sin, shame and pain that so easily clings to me.
Thank You that You know I am but dust and yet You are still mindful of me, compassionate, full of mercy and slow to anger. Help me never to forget Your character, that You are with me, always extending Yourself toward me, no matter how far I have wandered away. Help me to rest in You fully and wholly.
Keep me so close to You. Help me to resist the devil, so that he may flee from me. Teach me to walk in the light of Your truth, give me an undivided heart that I may fear Your Name above all else. Amen.
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
He heard God when he listened to Jesus speaking. He saw God in seeing Jesus with his own eyes. And he touched God when he touched The body of Jesus.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
Verse 1. From the beginning. Verse 2 The eternal life, which was with the Father — Jesus was eternal.
Verse 1. The word of life. Verse 2 the life was made manifest. — Jesus was a real person in humanity.
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
“So that you may have fellowship with us” We can have an intimate relationship with God and with his Son Jesus Christ.
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
“….so that our joy may be complete.”
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
Jesus existed in eternity with God his Father but came to earth as a human being and was heard, seen and touched by John and His followers. John is telling us about Him so that we too can have fellowship (an intimate relationship) with God and in the reality of knowing these things our joy will be complete.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
How can I not praise Him for the wonderful truth shared here of God coming to earth and becoming human flesh like us and making it possible for us to experience dependent intimacy and sweet fellowship with Him and in experiencing His great love I experience complete joy. A perfect joy in my soul which nothing in this world gives.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Where I fail to listen to his words by giving time to his teaching from His Word. I fail to stop and focus on Him seeing Him with spiritual eyes to observe how He works and moves in my life. And as Keller said in his sermon “ God went to infinite lengths to to come near us. So we need to do whatever it takes to get close to Him.” I have been lazy and at times indifferent to the nearness of God and have failed to seek and pursue a meaningful relationship by responding to that deep and powerful love He brings to my life where my joy will be made complete.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
Wrong behavior: Being dull of hearing and seeing by not spending time in God’s Word where He reveals Himself.
Harmful emotions: Feeling sorry for myself and self centered when my emotional need is sweet fellowship with Him.
False attitudes: Independent thinking that I can handle life on my own when dependent intimacy is the only key to a complete joy regardless of the circumstances of my life.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
A close relationship to God marked by His joy.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
As reminders of the importance of this wonderful truth about Christ coming to earth at Christmas and I find my joy being deeper and more complete leading me to worship more fully in this dark world and this dark time of history. All around is fear and discontent. This is a time of oppression and trouble we live in and my need is as I said before to stay focused on Jesus and His Word.
7. Part C. Prayer
Father God, I come to you again this morning at the beginning of a new day and a new week with praise for the wonderful truth found in this passage from 1st John. You came down to earth and you were heard and seen and even touched by your own and here we have a record about you from your faithful witness and servant John which encourages me. I praise and thank you for your Word where I am reminded of my need of you. I thank you for the great privilege of drawing closer to you in sweet fellowship and for the joy that comes to my soul with your presence. Thankyou for coming near to us in human flesh and being the sacrifice for my sin. Please, forgive me for wanting my own comfort first and self satisfaction in what I have. You alone are my life, my peace and my joy. Forgive me for having had a hard heart towards others and failing to see them in their need. I need you to give me grace for people in their need and the ability to encourage them in You. I ask thT your grace would mark my life. I desire that you be honored and lifted up. All gory be given to you and I pray in the strong name of Jesus. Amen
Harmful emotions: Feeling sorry for myself and self centered when my emotional need is sweet fellowship with Him.
Oh so, so true! In Dee’s replies to me in this group, I noticed how she drew my attention to the beautiful truth and hope I wrote of and how so often after naming that glorious truth and hope in my comments, I would return to bemoaning my hardship. I love how you ladies are teaching me how to resist the enemy’s schemes to steal my joy in my sweet fellowship with my Way, Truth and Life. Blessed by your humble, shepherding hearts.
Sunday: Getting Started
1. What stands out to you from the above, and why? – I listened to the song by Wesley and oh my this verse… 3 He left his Father’s throne above —so free, so infinite his grace — emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me! …Oh my to be known as a helpless race, that is a big ouch. What great reminders Dee to not just be ready to point fingers, to speak in grace when I should speak in accountability but I need to look in the mirror at ourselves before I do or say anything. I’m learning to hold back from speaking out to see another perspective on what is happening but how hard it is for me to slip right back in to my old blurt it out speaking. I need to hold my tongue more so I truly am speaking what God wants me to speak out and to see what God is trying to show me.
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness? – I truly think my gifting is the gift of service and helps. I don’t mind being in the background where no one sees me, in fact I prefer it. I am not an outgoing person at all and will sit quietly in a group for a long time. But I love to serve others and help others where I can. But the weakness I think is that I sometimes take on too much and then like Martha, feel very overwhelmed. I’m learning in this as well that it will be what God wants it to be no matter how much planning I do. Something can go wrong and if my outlook is focused on what is behind the service then everything will be just as it should be. I also find with my Life Group, (my husband and I are the facilitators) I prepare the main meal the majority of the time, but I find myself being tired of it and at times would really not mind stepping down from leading. But I step back and search for the WHY from God, and my peace comes back. It is only by His Strength that I continue on.
3. During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.) – I think I may be one of those that really am not minding some of the simpler things this pandemic has brought. I’m working from home still and have been since mid March and I absolutely love it. What I am sad about is how long this is going one, the finger pointing still, the unloving comments and glances and this brings me down, but I have to continue to believe and remind myself that God is in control of all of this and us.
“I’m learning in this as well that it will be what God wants it to be no matter how much planning I do.”
This is so good to remember. Thank you for this reminder to rest in God’s provision.
“the finger pointing still, the unloving comments and glances”
So hard. Oh may Jesus have mercy on all our weary hearts and help us to walk in the light of His love for us, so we may pour His love out upon others too.
1. What stands out?
oh, the GC Songs of Hope is just so beautiful–so many favorites, new ones too. I loved Jesus, you Come, and so many…but as I’m listening now to “Come all ye unfaithful”, these lyrics are so strong:
O come, all you unfaithful, Come, weak and unstable Come, know you are not alone O come, barren and waiting ones Weary of praying, come See what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born Christ is born for you
O come, bitter and broken Come with fears unspoken Come, taste of His perfect love
O come, guilty and hiding ones There is no need to run See what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born Christ is born for you
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
I feel like it’s different every time I take a test! It’s usually serving and exhortation, then mercy, giving. Thinking of service, I think my weakness is getting burned out, or resentful. With exhortation I think the weakness can be that I can be very black and white, lacking mercy.
3. During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
Overall, we have found a lot of blessing amidst this time—my teen son is doing excellent in school at home, and it’s given me more time with Philip to have him here, my husband absolutely loves working from home and is hoping to continue indefinitely. We’ve enjoyed goods walks and better communication, more time as a family. But for me, and it sounds almost petty, but I have struggled some with the lack of personal, and emotional space. I’m realizing that my desire for more physical space has led to me close off a bit emotionally at times, if that makes sense. I am trying to keep going to the Lord every morning asking Him to help me love my family well each day, to give me what I need for what He has called me to, today.
I love hearing similar stories of God using the lockdowns for good. For us also, it has brought beautiful blessings too.
I recognize that lack of space and emotional shutting down too though. Thank you for reminding me to bring that to the Lord in prayer. We went into a new full lockdown tonight. I immediately began thinking of all the ways this was going to make my new teaching job impossible: teaching so many high schoolers online, while also teaching my own kids at the same time.
But then, as I chatted to my spiritual Mama via Skype, I recalled our study here on 1 John and I told her: God sure is reminding me that He’s been around since before time began, so He surely has all this in His hands also.
Then, tonight, my husband reminded me teaching is a priority vocation – which means the kids can go to school, unlike those from parents with non-priority vocations. Two of my youngest daughter’s best friends will also be at school because their Mums work in healthcare.
Truly: God is the best!
I too loved Come All Ye Unfaithful!
I need to be open to loving family well too during the holidays for I too love my personal space. We can pray for one another!!!
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
He heard His voice with his ears, he saw Him with his eyes, he looked upon and touched Him with his hands.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
From the beginning, the word of life, life made manifest, with the Father, made manifest “to us”
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
So that we may have fellowship with him, with Jesus and God the Father.
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
So that our joy may be complete.
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
Jesus is God Incarnate and came to give us life and joy.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Jesus came for us, for me. He came to bring me into fellowship with the Father and give me joy.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Forgive me Father for thinking other temporal pleasures will bring me lasting joy. Forgive me for not valuing this fellowship as all I need, all of life, ultimate joy.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
When I forget that Jesus offers me fellowship and eternal joy, I look to other things—man’s approval, to give me joy. I place unfair expectations on people, relationships, and then they disappoint. I’ve expected them to be for me what only Jesus can be.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
Christ came for me. God desires fellowship with me. That is more than enough to fill every ache. Earthly relationships can bring blessings but they are not my joy. Jesus is my joy. When I am filled with Him, I can enjoy others as gifts, not demand they meet my needs.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
I have a tendency to expect too much, wrongly, of people. The more I embrace Jesus’ love for me, my Father’s pursuit of me, the more I am freed to love others, as they are, not needing them to be something for me.
Love this:
“The more I embrace Jesus’ love for me, my Father’s pursuit of me, the more I am freed to love others, as they are, not needing them to be something for me.”
I so recognize that expectation of others too. God has humbled me so much in that also, showing me the beauty of those expectations being met fully in Him. I so love His pursuit of us.
I once talked with another adoptive Mom (who runs Open Hearts for Orphans) about how the struggles of adopted kids to bond and heal helps us to see our Heavenly Father’s love for us also, as He heals and restores our severed bond (from sin) with Him too. She so agreed.
I asked her to share about that for my podcast and she agreed to do that, before I shut down my blog. I still hope to have her share more one day. I believe we have so much to learn from you adoptive Moms.
She shared an incredible story on my blog about a miracle that unfolded after a deadly car accident to save her life, when she was an unbeliever. She told me that she truly believes God saved her to fulfill the purpose she is now walking in as an adoptive Mama and helping so many other families.
Oh Anna, how I would love to meet you in person! You are so full of wisdom and you just shine of Him. So thankful you are here with us. You are a treasure
I would love to meet you in person too, Lizzy! You exude the warmth of Jesus. American friends of mine have had dreams of me and my family in the States. I have so many dear friends there and my husband’s brother and family live there too. My sister married an American also.
1. What stood out in the introduction? In the discussion about Christmas being about light, I remembered Del Tackett in the Truth Project. He said one day his son went to get something out of the closet, and it hit Del. He had his son open and close the door several times. His conclusion was that darkness never puts light out, but light always does away with darkness. That same twist happened to me several times in the introduction. That Christmas happens in the dark, to those living in darkness. Jesus’s birth brings light and hope. He is light in our valley of shadow. The concert from TGC was certainly wonderful. Some of my reflections on light came from the first poem, from the Australian. The next song, by Sovereign Grace, with its surprise lines were another highlight. O come, all you unfaithful, you unstable. You weary, come see what God has done.
I love this so much:
“His conclusion was that darkness never puts light out, but light always does away with darkness. ”
Oh how easy it is to fight darkness with darkness. To fight ungodly resistance with hiding my light, apologizing for walking in the truth or trying to convince with my fleshly-led wisdom (which isn’t wisdom at all), rather than waiting on God in prayer, to then move in Him.
Oh may He continue to teach and discipline me to carry His light to every situation He sets before me, by walking in obedience to His timely Word – whether that Word be to leave and shake off the dust, to stay and persist in love and mercy, or to withdraw to a safer distance and pray fervently.
Thank you for sharing this. Such a vivid picture of that cupboard.
1. What stands out to you from the above, and why?
“Truth without grace is cruel, and grace without truth is enabling.” I so appreciate your personal story about a friend who did something wrong that bothered you, but how God gave you grace to go to her as a sister in the Lord. There was information you did not know. We all need to have both grace and truth. I have been pondering how we, as Zechariah’s Benedictus in Luke 1 says, learn to “serve him without fear.” I, like you, can be quick to see the faults, but I tend to not speak critical words out loud, but harbor a critical spirit and withdraw from that person a bit, damaging the relationship.
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness?
I honestly do not know what my spiritual gift is. I have done those tests but forget what they said. I think it might be teaching, discernment and also administration. I haven’t thought about this for quite a while so I do not know their strengths and weaknesses. I’m wondering what you are basing your question on, Dee, there are several different lists/ways of describing of spiritual gifts out there.
3. During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.)
If I think people disapprove of me or my actions, I can easily slip into the darkness of self-condemnation and withdraw.
Interesting how you react to disapprove — I often come out fighting — not healthy either!
Diane: I’d love to hear what you have been learning through this reflection of yours:
I have been pondering how we, as Zechariah’s Benedictus in Luke 1 says, learn to “serve him without fear.”
2. Spiritual gifting. I’ve taken several of the tests, and come out high on discernment, teaching and exhortation. A pastor we used to have said that gifting can change over time with our exposure to trying our hand at new things. It gets a bit murky to tell the difference between being gifted by the Spirit, talented by birth, and skilled by training and experience. For me, the biggest negative in any of them is starting to think that I am the center attraction. Putting myself where only God belongs. Conversely, the biggest strength is when I consciously yield everything in me to listening to Him and carefully moving slowly forward in His strength and not mine.
3. In this pandemic, where do you slip into the darkness?
Like Laura, the social and political environment weighs on me. Some may call me a conspiracy follower, though I don’t go to their sites, but I do believe this all happened for the political and economic advantage of some groups. The Lord spoke to me before the election, that what is happening has been coming for a long time. Four years aren’t going to change the outcome. The danger is in letting all of that send me spiraling down. What helps is reading Bible prophecy. Remembering that everything has been told us ahead of time. We may go through tough times. Really tough times. But, we can lift up our heads and rejoice, because our redemption is coming. We have a different citizenship, in a different place. Our Lord will call us, and it will be not just good. It will be glorious.
Mary, I really agree with your assessment of our political and economic situation. I don’t allow conspiracy theories to dominate my time or energy either but agree that because of biblical prophecy we can see that these things are coming to pass. And I seek to focus on our glorious Hope which is of course Jesus Christ.
This is so true: “that gifting can change over time with our exposure to trying our hand at new things”. Or maybe it doesn’t change necessarily, but new gifts become more visible in us as His fruit grows in us?
Oh yes! This is my biggest weakness too: “For me, the biggest negative in any of them is starting to think that I am the center attraction. Putting myself where only God belongs.” I can make myself that center of attention by telling God I can’t do what He wants me to because of my weaknesses: forgetting that it is our weakness that qualifies us because it presses us into His power.
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7 A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
God is Light-in Him there is no darkness at all. He doesn’t just create light, He IS light. There is not one bit of darkness in Him. Darkness often begets darkness. I can have an ill thought and if I do not take it captive it just multiplies. In Him there is no darkness at all, no possibility of it.
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
Light brings warmth, clarity of mind and sight, allows for life to grow. So many gardening metaphors but I always love to watch my paperwhite bulbs and how they lean towards the light as they grow. Growth requires light.
Darkness hides what is present, what is true. Darkness inhibits growth. But then I was thinking—it does allow growth of things like mold! So maybe darkness allows unwanted growth. Darkness of mind is pit with no bottom. Thoughts go deeper in, darker and darker. The only way out is to have light breakthrough from the outside and shine truth.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
Fellowship is a dance. If we are walking in darkness, we cannot dance with God, for He has no darkness in Him at all. We cannot be in true fellowship with God while entertaining darkness. It does not mean darkness of depression or that we can’t be sinful, we know that we are until we are fully transformed one Day. But walking in darkness is a choice to live in it, and we cannot do that while living in fellowship with God.
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
1. If we walk in the Light, we have fellowship with one another.
Dee has modeled this so well here. When there is a break in our fellowship with one another, it is a vertical problem. Walking in the light means that we continually ask Him to reveal our sin and truth, and this leads to restoration and restored fellowship.
2. The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
I’m struck by the continual nature of the cleansing. It’s not one time, but “cleanses”. We are cleansed of our Sin nature, and continually cleansed of our daily sins—all sins.
I too am struck by the continual nature of cleansing — even the verse that says “As we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” What I see in that is that there is not confession there, for there is sin in us we are unaware of, but as walk in the light, He cleanses us of that unintentional sin, or perhaps makes us aware so we can confess, and both increases our fellowship with one another.
I love what you shared about watching your bulbs lean toward the light to grow. It gives me a picture of leaning into the arms of Jesus and of wanting to be His best friend who hears even the tiniest whisper He speaks.
Thank you for sharing this.
Another thing. What you shared about mould so struck me. It fit with what someone else here shared about a shut cupboard. It makes me think of projects that we have begun with God but then shelved away in a cupboard, for various reasons.
When I was praying for someone once, I told her I felt God asking her to take what she had stored away in her cupboard out again. She immediately thought of what that could be and in taking it out again, God flooded her with sweet memories and stripped away shame she was clinging to, revealing all the beauty He was growing in and through her through the years.
Thank you for this prompting of the Spirit. I am going to be asking Jesus what He wants me to take out of the cupboard again so He can strip away the mould of shame.
oh Anna–that really spoke to me personally. As I read your words, I immediately thought of something I’ve been feeling a “nudge” to take out of my “cupboard”. Thank you. Your gift of encouragement to us all here, the way you listen, the way you speak from Him–such a gift!
Lizzy: you are a gift! Interacting in this group was a big step for me to take, so you taking the time to respond to me so warmly and kindly has been God’s gift to me. Thank you.
All glory be to God for the affirmation He is bringing you.
Monday/Tuesday: Hail the Incarnate Deity!
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1? – He saw the Deity with his own eyes, heard him speak and touched Him with his own hands.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him? – “that which was from the beginning…” “…the Word of life” “…the eternal life” From these verses I see that Jesus is everything. He was always around and was with the Father from the beginning. We can know Him by know the Word. He is all we need in every form.
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3? – John’s purpose was so everyone could experience what he was able to experience, fellowship with Jesus and the Father. To know what John knows about Jesus. He just wanted everyone to have what he had. Jesus!
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4? – He wanted us to be full of joy as he was. And he knew that he did was was called of him, letting us know.
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences. – If we are aware of just who Jesus is, that he was always with us from the beginning and that His Word brings us life, then we have all that we need. We will find our joy in Him and His Word and once we do, we will have Eternal Life.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text? – I can praise him to my friends, so they too can know the joy he brings to me. By telling others about Him and what he has done for me, will spread the Good News in this world.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text? – I can let him know how sorry I am when I hold back telling others about Him. I really do want them to have what I have found in Him, but am afraid of the back lash. I can ask Him to speak the words through me so I know it is Him helping me. I can let him know I need him to help me.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this? – Fear creeps in. My joy will be diminished because I failed to walk with Jesus and let others know about Him. I need to not think that someone else will let them know. I may be the only one they see.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for? – I need to be reaching for His Word to find my joy. To find the ‘get too’s’ in my life and realize how blessed I am because of someone doing what God instructed them to do, tell me about Him. I need to get to this point and just be more open about Him.
E. Why are You telling me this today? – He’s is preparing me for what’s to come. I’m farther along than I have ever been, but I am not there yet. I’m not to the point where He freely is revealed by me and that is where I need to be. I need to be ready.
7. Part C. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 2nd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing: – Lord you are my everything. You are all that I need. You are the one who will satisfy my every dream, my every request. No one else can. I need to find each day my joy through you and not be afraid to let others know just how much you can give them. Lord help me. I want to do what you ask me to do. Search me and remove the fear and doubt I have when I start to speak. Let me be like Moses and give me the words I need to say. Make me be amazed that those words came from me, because I know Lord, I couldn’t and can’t do it without you. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
Thank you Lord for who you are to us in this song.
Christ by highest heaven adoredChrist, the everlasting LordLate in time behold He’ll comeOffspring of a Virgin’s wombVeiled in flesh the Godhead seeHail the incarnate deityPleased as man with man to dwellJesus, our Emmanuel
I’m farther along than I have ever been, but I am not there yet
Growth is the evidence that His seed is true in us! You are His, Julie!
As I read what you wrote, I kept thinking: “But you are giving Jesus to people who don’t know Him. You are living Him.” Your words and prayers here show that to me.
It reminds me of what Paul said (2 Corinthians 3:3): “And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” People will see Jesus in you and begin to ask you how come you are so happy and so at peace.
One of my unbelieving friends started inviting me to lunch to ask me about my God and my relationship with Him after I left my church.
I have been able to share Bible verses and stories and worship songs with her that have blessed me. It feels so good to just be myself with her. That fear I once had to share freely has disappeared.
God sees your yearning to tell others about Him. May He fulfill that desire He has given you in surprising and awe-striking ways. And may it deepen your friendships and your love for Jesus even more.
Thank you both so much. That means a lot.
1. What stands out to you from the above, and why?
Your first sentence, Dee, pulled me right in to this week’s study. You said “. . . the doctrine of grace banished the darkness” . . . with LIGHT. I also liked several folks on TGC video.
Greg Scrivner’s Christmas in Dark Places: “Christmas happens in the darkness.” “The Christ child is reigning.” “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.” “Christmas is about hope.”
The reading of “Mary’s Song” was powerful. The contrasts woven all throughout the reading were remarkable. One example: The Triune God inside a virgin womb engulfed by divine embryo for three trimesters; another example: the Composer has become what He made. Really loved the vivid pictures of the spoken word.
Josh Garrels sang “O Come Emmanuel” – he has such an interesting voice. My favorite song by him is “Come To The Table.” I think it’s just really beautiful and gives me hope that my girls will return to the table. Here it is if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L87sCyCjrE
2. What is your spiritual gifting? Do you know its strength and weakness? My gifting falls in the areas of discernment, service & administration. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about the strengths & weaknesses. That will be a good thing to consider & ponder.
3. During this pandemic, is there an area where you tend to slip into the darkness? (You don’t have to share — but come before the Lord for wisdom.) The darkest area is not seeing my girls or grandboys – not seeing & spending time with my family. But this too shall pass, this is not a surprise to the Lord, we can still talk with each other .. . this too shall pass.
I loved those two pieces you mentioned too!
Oh that song! I have cried tears listening to “Come to the Table”. When I was a Prodigal my Dad gave me a Bible and a letter. I didn’t open that letter or Bible till I came home to Jesus.
Do you know that the verse my Dad quoted in that letter described the very thing I was struggling with and what was keeping me from God’s arms. I cried so much.
Keep a record of verses God speaks to you for your girls. One day it will make them cry too.
Father God, I lift up Karmen and her girls to you today. Thank You that You tell us that those who sow with tears will reap with joy. Thank You for the tears Karmen has sown for her girls. Thank You for showing us Your heart for Your Prodigals through Karmen.
When her heart aches most, also as she can’t see her family physically, will You shower her in Your love and nearness. Fill her heart with a new song of praise. Let joy spring up in her and peace wrap around her like a warm shawl every time she prays for her girls. Speak Your Word over her and over her girls. Love on her in unexpected and surprising ways. Amen.
Anna – thank you so much for your beautiful prayer and to keep a record of Scripture for my girls. Yes, every time I listen to this song, I sense the Lord standing right beside me looking and watching for them to come home. Than you, Anna. 🤗
Beautiful picture. His seal of love tethers them still. And when they return their faith will no longer be in themselves or in others, but only Jesus. He knows what they need to walk through to be born again.
For you: https://youtu.be/wckLsA8DUzc
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
John said that he has heard, seen (from a distance), and looked upon (in close proximity) touched the incarnate Deity.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
He was from the beginning, the Word of life, eternal life, with the Father
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
So that we can have fellowship with one another (shared experience!)
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
So that their joy will be complete. Our joy in Christ is not complete unless we share it with others who don’t know Him and who may know Him but don’t have His joy.
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
Jesus came to earth and John and others have experienced Him in the flesh. John wants us to know the same Jesus and in so doing we fellowship with one another and experience joy from it.
6. Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
This reminds me of the song “What a beautiful name”. You were the Word in the beginning; One with God the Lord Most High…Praise you, Lord that you are the Alpha.
And just as He was with John and the disciples and many others in the flesh, He is with me in Spirit and in the Word.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
I live life at times like Jesus is not with me. I have experienced Him in many ways and my joy has always been beyond expression and so why do I live life joyless at times when He is with me all the time?
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I worry and desire things other than Him.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
To know and experience Him more often than I do.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
Because I forget. Today, I was focused on doing rather than being with Jesus.
7. Part C. Prayer
Lord, you are Emmanuel, God with us, God with me. Help this to be an always reality for me because it is true. You are with us, with me. Help me to start my day with my soul being happy in you and throughout the day, let me say, as John Eldredge has encouraged us to say, “Jesus, I give everything and everyone to you. I give everyone and everything to you, God. I give myself to you, Jesus for union with you. I am created with union with you, God. I give everything in me for union with you, Lord. I need more of you, God. Fill me with more of you.”
What a good prayer from Eldredge!
Last summer I was discouraged about some relationships and addressing a situation. I shared it in a devotional time with a group while on vacation to the Black Hills. My sweet son-in-law who is a big red necked kind of guy and has attended one of John Eldridge’s boot camps and he shared that same thought with me that I needed to “give everything and everyone to God”. It spoke so well to me and was exactly what I needed to hear at that time. 😊
What a beautiful prayer.
Oh how I do this too: “I live life at times like Jesus is not with me.” I was writing a devotional for chronically ill tweens today, and Jesus led me to write it from my place of weakness. I shared with them that I also forget He is with me but that lately He has kindly been reminding me He is with me and to come to Him for help, through bringing a song I sung in Sunday school to mind:
https://youtu.be/Hx3n53d3aH8
Yes, Bing. John Eldredge has been so encouraging. Wild at Heart ministries has offered the “Pause App” ~ brief prayers that John leads us in. This has been one way that our God re-orients my heart by addressing my control idol and once again, relinquishing everyone and everything to Him who is sovereign.
My friend Twila talks a lot about that pause app!
Keller sermon (one of my favorites! one of his best)
I love when you remind us of something we have done before….it reinforces my knowledge and I appreciate that. Here are a few things that stuck out to me.
John actually witnessed the events of which he spoke. They were not made up. It’s the way he describes them that we know.
Charles Wesley wrote the song Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Keller brings up that the line “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.” In the OT you couldn’t be with God in person. It was too dangerous. But now, in the NT you had Him right in your presence in the form of Jesus. In flesh. You could touch Him. I love that thought!
Love has always been here. It is not just a chemical reaction. It will remain after we die too.
Keller is one of the only people I know who knows about Dorothy L Sayer and Harriet Vane! One of my favorite series of all times! I love the idea that she wrote herself into the story….I always loved the series but never knew that fact. I remember him using this analogy and about God writing himself into our “story” the first time I heard this sermon and it brought me to tears. It did it again. I may listen again just because this is SO good ♥️.
By the way, Tammy sent this to me and I wanted to share with you…Jupiter and Saturn will be in conjunction on December 21 forming the “Christmas” star. It will be beautiful! Don’t miss it!
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/jupiter-saturn-christmas-star-48024008
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/great-jupiter-saturn-conjunction-dec-21-2020
Laura — I see such positivity and hope in your comments and I feel God is answering our prayers for you!
Thank you for the heads-up, Laura. I would love to see that. Although here in the Netherlands it’s harder to see the stars than back home in New Zealand.
BTW Can I just say I love your name? It was my favorite Grandma’s name (my Mum’s Mum) and is my eldest’s middle name and also my husband’s Aunt who has gone home to Jesus. I also chose it for our eldest because of its meaning.
I also love what you share here: “It will remain after we die too.” That’s often what I write on condolence cards. That the love their loved ones have given them now lives on in them. No love is ever wasted. It never dies. Because love is Jesus and He is timeless and eternal. I often smile thinking that I am living out my Mum’s prayers each day – things are being fulfilled that I have no idea she prayed for. My Mama was an intercessor at heart. As my Dad said: if Margaret was praying, you’d know answers would start coming in.
Once God kept her up all night weeping in prayer for the young Moms in her neighborhood. She had three of us little ones at the time and had loved my Dad into healing when she met him (just after he had been hospitalized trying to take his own life).
There had been several suicides of young Moms, dying from postnatal depression. The next morning she went from door to door meeting the young Moms in our neighborhood. Dad told us the suicides stopped and he was convinced God worked through my Mum. Love is powerful.
Anna! My mom was also Margaret! I lost her a few years back and miss her often. She was a truly good person and the most Christian person I have ever known. That story of your mom and the young moms is amazing. She sounds like a gem too 😉.
And a song that makes me think of you teaching in your school and dancing with Jesus through life, going where He asks, loving through the pain and fear:
https://youtu.be/rSACa4bEPLY
Beautiful song! My favorite OT story is Esther! She showed such patience, a quality I strive for in my life. Thanks for sharing with us 😊.
Oh I love that! God knew. I bet He has destined you to be an Esther, who rises up to proclaim His Word too. Otherwise that story wouldn’t be so precious to you. Did you know that in the verse: Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! That the Word to say, means:
HELPS Word-studies
3004 légō (originally, “lay down to sleep,” used later of “laying an argument to rest,” i.e. bringing a message to closure; see Curtius, Thayer) – properly, to say (speak), moving to a conclusion (bringing it to closure, “laying it to rest”).
Esther spoke up and laid the enemy’s attack against her people to rest. May you do the same. May you, every time the enemy attacks you with hate and slander, arise to speak love and life. May the enemy’s plans to steal, kill and destroy in your midst be silenced by the Word of life you speak aloud.
BTW rejoice here means to “delight in God’s grace”.
BTW Esther was an intercessor too. She fasted and prayed and asked her people to do the same for her.
Oh my: how precious our Moms are both Margarets. I love that that name means “pearl”. Our Moms surely were and still are pearls: like the pearls shining on the gates of heaven:
Revelations 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
And one last thing, Laura. I did a Word study on “patience” or “perseverance” once and discovered that it literally means to abide under. It’s made up of hupo (under) and meno (to abide).
What I find interesting in Esther’s story is that she was honest. She admitted her fear of being killed and used that as a reason not to speak up. But Mordecai spoke God’s Word – a good Word- to her, when she dared to pour out her fears in all honesty, rather than hide her frailty. By boasting in her weakness, God’s light could shine upon her in Mordecai’s reply: “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this”. God lifted up her stooping heart.
She abided in God by letting nothing come between them, by being genuine in her weakness for God to perfect her in HIS power.
And another song that appeared on my feed and made me think of you…It’s about dancing to God’s Word over our lives, when the circumstances of this world try to drown out the music:
https://youtu.be/ksqH6OHrkYs
Wednesday/Thursday
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
5 (A)This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that (B)God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 (C)If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and (D)do not practice the truth. 7 But (E)if we walk in the light, (F)as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (G)the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
That He is the Light and that there is no darkness in Him.
Light=
HELPS Word-studies
5457 phṓs (a neuter noun) – properly, light (especially in terms of its results, what it manifests); in the NT, the manifestation of God’s self-existent life; divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.
Darkness=
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 4653 skotía (a feminine noun) – darkness, a brand of moral, spiritual obscurity (i.e. which blocks the light of God when faith is lacking). See also 4655 /skótos (“darkness”).
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
Light: helps us to see, reveals what is hidden, gives off warmth, causes shadows to fall behind what it illuminates.
Darkness: hides, conceals, causes fear, blocks vision, makes it difficult to walk/move without stumbling.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
That if we walk in darkness we don’t have fellowship with Jesus. I think this is because walking in darkness is walking in sin and hiding our weakness, which blinds us to God’s love and grace, and stops us from walking freely in Him.
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
We have fellowship with one another: it’s when we live in unity with Jesus, abiding in Him (the Light), that we are genuine in our love and affection for each other, because we love and extend grace freely from the love and grace He continues to shower upon us moment by moment, rather than outwardly acting as if we love one another and harboring hatred, bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts toward each other.
We are cleansed from all sin by the blood of Christ: coming into the light is confessing our sins freely before Jesus. It’s coming just as we are in our need, boldly coming before the throne of grace in our time of need.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Thank You, Jesus, for not allowing me to stay in darkness, for not allowing me to hide in sin and unrighteousness. Thank You for continually pressing me into the light to receive Your mercy in my time of need. Thank You for exposing the schemes of the enemy to divide my heart and steal, kill and destroy.
Thank You for severing my ties with people and communities, where the Word of light You spoke through me was not received. Thank You for showing me that by staying and by refusing to surrender them into Your hands, even after the breaking You brought about, I stumbled in the darkness, choosing to embrace my fleshly and sinful desires of pride, envy, unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and slander.
Thank You for causing me to arise and move into the light of Your love and grace. Thank You that just as Proverbs promises, You are making even my enemies come into a covenant of peace with me through this breaking.
Thank You that in our parting You have been working a surrender and love for them in my heart. Thank You for using this group to lead me to see and confess my sins of pride, envy, unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and slander.
Thank You for uncovering my desire to be loved and accepted by those You parted me from, a desire drawing me into darkness and blinding me in sin. Thank You for helping me to surrender my worship of idols to rest in Your love and acceptance of me, and Your pride in my obedience to You.
Thank You for helping me to surrender my complaints about others’ sins and the burden of my own sins that You have forgiven and cleansed me from. Thank You for reminding me that Your vengeance against the enemy and His schemes to divide Your Body will come.
Thank You that one day all our knees will bow before You to acknowledge the finished work of Your Cross. Thank You for building up my trust in Your Word of eternal restoration and wholeness. Thank You that one day each of us will be able to see and know fully, what we now know and see but in part.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Forgive me for letting bitterness, hatred, envy and unforgiveness take root in my heart toward Your church and Body. Forgive me for believing that You were punishing me, when You led me out of my church and had me break friendships to draw me back into the light.
Forgive me for looking in pain at the closed doors in this region, where I must deny You to attend a church. Forgive me for believing these closed doors show Your desire to withhold good things, such as fellowship with Your Body, from me.
Thank You for the gift of this group in uncovering the enemy at work in my heart. Thank You for drawing me back into the light. Thank You for bringing back precious memories from churches I have attended this week through Dee and Laura.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this (to walk in the light)?
False attitudes:
I think I have to “be good” and continually fight off sinful urges, rather than confessing my sinful thoughts and weakness freely before Jesus to allow Him to walk me into the light, so I can let go of what is not mine to carry and love others from the love God gifts me.
Wrong behavior:
I “try” to love God and others from my own strength (which is not true and pure love from the heart), continually stumbling around in the dark and becoming more and more exhausted, embittered and lonely.
Wrong emotions:
I sit in pain and shame. I struggle to let go of anger.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
Jesus
E. Why are You telling me this today?
To remind me of Your protection in the shutting of doors. To stop me apologizing for obeying You and to stop me denying the wrongs and hurt done, in the name of “grace”. To lead me to lay these wrongs and the hurt before You, for You to release me from its weight.
To lead me to plead the blood of Jesus over every wrong done for Your mercy to flow. To lift the pain of the sins committed by me and by others from my body and memory. To restore my peace and my joy through birthing fresh faith in me.
To remind me that You will yet avenge all the wrongs done and that Your justice will flow.
10. Part III. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 3rd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace
Hail, the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Oh Jesus, praise You for the truth of this glorious line: “Born that man no more may die”. Thank You for showing me that You desire for me and those I love to not die, but to live and flourish in the light of Your love, truth and grace.
Thank You for saving me from death and destruction. Thank You for letting me experience the power of Your Holy Spirit, of Your salvation and the seal of life You placed on me as that little girl, in whom You birthed a childlike faith and trust in You.
Thank You for bringing more and more healing to my heart. Thank You for restoring me unto Yourself, for continually exposing the darkness in me, cleansing me of my sins, covering me in Your righteousness, taking me into Your arms and declaring me Yours, forevermore.
Help me to be bold and speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Help me to shine the light of Your love and grace brightly into this world, not ashamed of the Gospel, but so proud to be Yours and so thankful for the incredible mercy You have showered upon me and long to shower upon so many more.
Help me to persevere in my requests, intercession and thanksgiving for all those in places of authority (both those in church and secular authority), just as Paul commanded Timothy to do. Help me as Paul reminded Timothy to do, to live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2: 1-7).
Thank You for returning my peace to me. Thank You for helping me to shake off all the dust, once and for all, from all the places and friendships You led me into and back out of, for Your glory, my training in godliness and the healing of my heart. Help me to continue to look forward in hope and never again backward in pain and shame. Amen.
5. Part I. Study: Read 1 John 1:1-4
A. What are the ways John experienced the incarnate Deity according to verse 1?
He was with Him, he heard Him, he touched Him, he saw Him.
B. Find phrases John uses to call Jesus in verses 1-2 — and what do these phrases tell us about Him?
Word of life, manifest in us, eternal life
He is life, He has been with us always.
C. What is John’s first purpose in telling us these things according to verse 3?
To proclaim to all the events that they witnessed and were a part of with Jesus. To have fellowship with Him.
D. What is his second purpose, according to verse 4?
So that his (their) joy is complete.
E. Summarize what this passage says in two sentences.
God, Himself, came to Earth in the form of a man. Some, at the time, were able to be with Him and experience the things He went through, and they testified to the events so others would know He was always with them, for eternity.
IWednesday/Thursday: Hail The Sun of Righteousness!
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
The message from Jesus was that God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is oppressive in it’s effect. Light always overcomes darkness. Light awakens and cheers us. Light is revealing.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
That we are lying and not being honest if we say we have a loving relationship of dependent intimacy with God but continue to have darkness (sin) in our lives and our way of living. It is not possible to have God’s presence which always brings light to our circumstances and remain in dark places.
The light of God’s presence always brings healing and restoration into lives that invite Him in or accept his place in their lives. God never leaves anyone down and out if they submit to Him and his presence. God always lifts people up.
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
1. There is fellowship.
Being in a right relationship with God and seeking to live in his light and his ways go together.
2. There is cleansing from sin.
God’s light in our lives quickly reveals and exposes any sin that should not be there and by his presence there is cleansing from our sins available if we confess them. Sin is darkness and cannot remain in our lives if He is present and we are walking in fellowship with Him.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Just simply praising God for Who He is as the light of our lives who will take away all darkness by his presence and his wonderful promise to cleanse me of sin which brings freedom to my soul.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
By choosing accept the light of his truth when there is any sin that creeps into my life and begins to bring darkness and cause shadows to fall on the light of his presence. And then to find his wonderful cleansing from my sin available so his light continues to shine clearly on me.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
The wrong behaviors of minimizing God in my life and in devaluing others, the harmful emotions of self pity and selfishness and false attitudes that I am doing just fine on my own begin to shut out the light of God in my life and cause me to live a lie when I say I have Jesus but do not practice truth.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
To always stay in the light by living my life immersed in God’s Word and in the habit of prayer.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
Because I need everyday to be reminded of Who God is and my constant need of his wisdom and light in my life. I believe we are living in dark times and I need Jesus to walk through them by having the presence of his light.
10. Part III. Prayer
Dear God Who is the light of my life because of Jesus, your Son, Who has cleansed and saved me from my sin, I praise You!
I thank you for the wonderful light you have shined on my life and as I have the privilege of knowing and walking with you darkness has no place in my heart and life. You are amazing in your spiritual gifts to me that I can have righteousness because of Jesus and the sweet fellowship of dependent intimacy with you. I thank you I don’t have to live in fear but I can fully trust you for all my heart needs to be met.
Please cleanse me from any sin that would bring darkness’s into my soul and keep me in anyway from You. You know my great weaknesses and the propensity of my flesh to go astray but with You in my life I don’t have to give in and follow any paths to sin. In Psalms it says “ His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” I thank you that even this morning this passage of scripture I studied serves to be an armor and protection for me as I consider the Truth and seek to live it out. God please forbid that I would practice any kind of lying by saying I have fellowship with you but then allow any sin to have place in my life. Lead me to keep short accounts with you and have a clean heart.
I ask for these friends in Christ that I am privileged to be a part of this Advent study with that you would be the Light of their lives in these dark times. Encourage each of them in their walk with You to find You strong and faithful to meet all their heart needs and that your Word would be their armor and protection as well. Bless them and minister to them as they seek to minister to others in their lives this Christmas.
I love You Lord and the sweet fellowship I enjoy by having your presence in my life. May you be honored and glorified today in all I do and say. In the strong and precious Name of Jesus! Amen.
Thank you for your sweet prayer for us. I loved reading your study of this passage. Your love for Jesus shines His light and warmth upon us all here. May God return the blessing you are to us, to you in multiplied ways.
Wednesday/Thursday: Hail The Sun of Righteousness!
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5? – God is light and has no darkness in him at all.
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness? – Light – you can see where you are going. Others can see you. If light from the sun, it brings me joy. I can see to read with light. Darkness – You are hidden from being seen, others cannot see what you are doing. You can stumble over something because you can’t see it. Darkness can bring about fear and depression.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning? – If we continue to walk in our old ways but say we have a relationship or fellowship with Jesus, we can’t. We can’t have both in our life at the same time. Jesus is not darkness, he is not sin and never has been either of these, so if we live in darkness still there is no way Jesus can be with us in our life until we get rid of or walk away from the things of this world.
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each. – If we walk in the light, Jesus is in the light and we have fellowship with one another. We will be around those who also have Jesus in their life and are truly walking in the light. Those who walk in the darkness will either not be able to be around us, or they will ask to get what we have and want a relationship with Jesus too. Also, the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. We have to have a relationship with Jesus in order for him to wipe our sins away and to forget our sins. Jesus has to wait for us to find our way to him. If there is no fellowship with him, no relationship, no light in our life, then we will stay in darkness until we see Him, until we see the light and all that it can bring us.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text? – I can praise Him by living a life of godliness, walking away from my own sins and staying away from those in the darkness unless they are seeking Him. I cannot live a double life, part in the darkness and part in the light. My life needs to be clean and full of light in order to praise Him.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text? – I can openly look for darkness in my life and ask Him to forgive me. Ask him to take my sins away. I can remove myself from people or things that are toxic and ask the Lord to help me guide them to him.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this? – Living in darkness though some may think it’s more fun will bring death. There will be no eternal life, there will be no joy or peace in our lives here on earth. We will not see the Kingdom of God if we live in darkness.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for? – I need to be aspiring to cleanse my life, my thoughts, my actions. I have to try to help those in the darkness but be aware of the antics to pull me in to the darkness. I need to live a life that they can see only light.
E. Why are You telling me this today? – Lord I feel this world has so much darkness and I know that I can easily get sucked in and get angry over things being said, but I need to find the love you are showing me and pass it along. The darkness can be broken by one person at a time. I feel Lord that you are guiding me to clean up my life first in order to see and help others along the way. I think you are showing me more and more the good that comes from a bad situation and just yesterday I pointed the good out to others. I feel you are bringing me peace in these times, so the light shines more brightly.
10. Part III. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer — and you might want to close with the 3rd verse from Hark the Herald Angels Sing: – Lord, you are not darkness, you are not sin and you never have been. I have been darkness and I have sinned, but by and through your blood, I no longer am those things. The light you have given me is shining brighter each day. I’m hearing you, and obeying you more, but I still hesitate. Lord help me to clearly know it’s you and that I will just follow your lead and walk along with you. I want the darkness in my life and this world to be gone. We need you more now Lord than ever before. Help me to be your spokesperson and bring others to you. I need your guidance. Thank you Lord for being my Light. In Jesus Name Amen.
Love singing about our Lord…
Hail, the heaven born Prince of PeaceHail, the Son of RighteousnessLight and life to all He bringsRisen with healing in His wingsMild He lays His glory byBorn that man no more may dieBorn to raise the sons of earthBorn to give them second birthHark! The herald angels singGlory to the newborn King
Julie: please don’t let Satan hide your light. Jesus doesn’t want us to stay away from people who are living in darkness. In fact, He’s called us to shine the light of His love and grace upon them.
Have you ever read the story of Elisabeth Elliott? Her husband was murdered by a tribe he went to preach the Gospel to. Elisabeth answered God’s call to return there with her daughter to love these same people home to Jesus. She walked the light of Jesus into darkness because she knew that darkness is as light to Jesus and that the darkness cannot snuff out the light.
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to come to Him. He comes to us. I wasn’t looking for Him as a Prodigal in 2014. He came to me. His peace descended upon me and HE opened my eyes to see by the power of the Holy Spirit. He left the 99 to come after me. No one spoke a Word to me, but the Living Word spoke to me as I walked in the mountains grieving the three months my mother was given to live and His overwhelming peace fell on me. And He spoke again as I felt His peace cover my Mum as she lay dying and could no longer speak a word. The Word of God spoke through His peace upon her.
Julie: you don’t need to help those in darkness, just be Jesus to them. Keep shining His light of love, truth and grace on them. Don’t keep away from them to protect yourself from darkness. Jesus is your protection. HE is your light that cannot be snuffed out.
Look at the verses that dropped into my email inbox this morning:
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
John 6:44-51 ESV
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
It’s funny, because when I read your comment about Jesus waiting on unbelievers to come to Him, John 6:44 came to my mind immediately.
I pray this encourages you and lifts away some of the fear you have felt. BTW I do understand there are also healthy boundaries God sets in place with some people. He has done that with me also. Lifting me away from people who trigger my past mindset because they still see with that legalistic mindset. Our healing journeys with Jesus are at a different stage and we were pulling each other down.
Anna — I love when the same Spirit says the same thing over and over to us!
Me too, Dee. He keeps affirming His Word, over and over. Perhaps He knows how forgetful and hard of hearing we can be.
The Word He gives me for others, always has application for my own life too. He loves to keep us humble. This time too. Perseverance in new thinking is His call to me right now. Dare to stand out and shine His light.
Part II. Contemplate this passage
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Thank You Lord for giving me hope. Knowing you have been with us before the world began is comforting.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Sometimes I lose faith; the world in my face. I am sorry for that. I get sidetracked and forget You. Ugh.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I chance falling away from my faith and then, what do I have? Who am I? I would no longer “hang” with believers. Who would I have in my life? What would be the meaning of life, or even my life for that matter?
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
I need to be more solid in my faith. John and the others saw Christ. They touched Him, they spoke to Him. He was with them in the flesh. How lucky they were!!! We don’t have that advantage, BUT, we have the Holy Spirit and we have each other to hold ourselves up like Moses was held up by Aaron and Hur as Joshua fought for Israel.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
My faith wavers as the days progress, due to the trials of the times we live in. Life is not fair. As hard as my husband and I have worked in our lives, it may be “all for naught.” When we are so short sighted to only think of the here as now and not keep our eyes on the fire prize, we fail ourselves. Lord, help me keep focused on You always.
7. Part C. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer.
Lord, thank You for coming to Earth in the flesh! Thank You for sharing with the people of that time so they could share with the world. Thank You for making them courageous to go out and spread Your Word until their deaths, which were not necessarily a “pretty” thing. Please help me have faith when I am weak. Lord help my disbelief. Help me always be ready to talk to others about You. You are the only hope our world has and people need to know this! You give us eternal life and we need to remind each other of this often. I pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
God is light. There is no darkness AT ALL in Him.
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
Light is extremely fast moving. It is a wave that wiggles in 2 directions because of its electromagnetic properties. It includes gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, microwaves, visible, infrared, and radio waves. Incidentally, infrared is the only bit of light that has a thermal characteristic (warmth). Humans exude infrared energy. So, there is light we see (visible), and light we can’t see but is there. It is NOT darkness because it is energy. We think of light as only the visible bit. It’s the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see (bees see in UV (!)). It is shiny and yellow/white bright. It is “warm” and comforting.
Darkness is black. It has no energy; it is slow. It is heavy. It is cold and scary.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
If we say we have fellowship with Him but we walk in darkness we are lying. I guess we need to be authentic and “walk the walk.” I don’t see that any human can actually ever be perfect in this manner. We are humans. We can do our best to behave, but we will always have sin, so should we not “fellowship” with Him at all because we are “lying?” I don’t think so. I think we fellowship with Him and do our best to not sin.
Or, does it mean that if we fellowship with Him we should show Him to others by our light?
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
We have fellowship with each other and are cleansed from sin by Him.
Well, like minded people in God hang together and are good for one another. We hold each other accountable. We remind each other of how we should act.
By hanging with “goodness,” and being reminded of our faith, Lord, and His sweetness, we automatically want to have better behavior and be the light for others to see, so they can be inspired to walk in light as well.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Thank You Lord for showing us how to be the light; how joy is transferred when the light is shining.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Oh Lord, it is so easy to forget that I am supposed to shine Your light to others so they will see You in me. Ugh! I can be so human sometimes! Forgive me for not being the light You planned for us to share. If I were, then others would want what I have. They do not. They are content in the world instead of knowing what I know; You.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I can easily slide into the darkness in this cold, lonely, world if I forget that I am supposed to shine the light. Depression and sadness enter in my life. Christians are supposed to be different than the rest. Others should see this difference.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
I need to make sure I put on my Jesus face and shine to others!
E. Why are You telling me this today?
We go back to school after 2 weeks remote and it is an opportunity for me to shine to others.
10. Part III. Prayer
Use what He has shown you as a springboard for prayer.
Lord, You are the light! You show us how we should be towards others. Thank You for this guidance. I want to be like You always! Help me to remember this and stop any sadness from coming into me. Help me to show others Your kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, love, faithfulness, peace, joy, and goodness as I trudge through this life. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.
So good to remember that light is also energy! Thanks, Laura!
With our focus on light, I’ve repeatedly been drawn back to this Scripture this week:
Matthew 6:22 ESV
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
That then reminded me of this Scripture:
Psalm 119:105 KJV
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
So if we want our eyes to be healthy, our eye for everything is God’s Word (the lamp). It is what HE tells us to think, to do, to say in each situation.
The really interesting thing I have been thinking about is that it is precisely when we think we can’t hear God’s Word to us, that He is in fact speaking the clearest. That we think we can’t hear Him, even though we are His sheep, indicates an attack of the enemy that God is allowing to root the Promise He has given us, deeper in our hearts.
After sharing a bit of my story this week, I found it interesting to reflect on how the enemy worked to attack the gifts God opened my eyes to, but how God then turned it into an even deeper rooted gift.
God brought me home through the peace I felt on my Mum and on myself as she was dying: He gave me the gift of faith through His Word of completion becoming palpable to me. But a year later, the enemy filled me with flashbacks of my mother’s broken and unhealed body. But interestingly, he did this right after God called me to be honest in my grieving and expose the lies I believed, through writing a Biblically centered lament.
The enemy took those lies I poured out and magnified them. But God then took the truth I had also poured out in those Laments and magnified it. He sent the Habakkuk Scripture and a song that spoke its Promise, He sent Kari Jobe’s song “I am not alone” (which is rooted in various Scriptures) and He reminded me of the Scriptures He had faithfully been feeding me day to day. The PTSD attack also came right after I had completed a Community Bible study going through the whole new Testament, and after I had begun reading through the Old Testament.
On the eve of attending my first therapy session God brought me this Scripture, right after I had taken all the Promises of peace He had spoken over me through the Bible and turned each Promise into questions of “Why haven’t you fulfilled this in my life then?”:
Song of Solomon 2 ESV
10 My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
11 for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
in the crannies of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.
15 Catch the foxes for us,
the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
for our vineyards are in blossom.”
Then, in those therapy sessions, where I had to face those horrific flashbacks, God opened my eyes to see that every single Promise I believed He hadn’t fulfilled in my life, He had. He healed my eyes through rewriting my past, my present and my future through the lens of His Word to me. He rescued and honored me as I cried out to Him:
Psalm 91:15 NLT
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
He filled a room of death with life: I could even smell the fragrance of the flowers I saw sprouting up all around me and feel the warmth of the sun shining upon me. Shalom also means completion, or all parts of the whole coming together in wholeness and health. God took the gift He gave me as my Mum lay dying, when His peace fell on us, and rooted it even deeper in my heart, my mind, my body and my soul.
But interestingly, He did it all through the enemy’s attacks that exposed the lies I believed and gave God entry to my heart to rip out these lies and replace them with His Word.
He did that again at my former church. When God called me to use my prophetic and intercessory gifting, I poured out my fears and worries to man about walking in what God was calling me to, and was met with Satan’s lies that told me: “God wouldn’t use someone like you for this, if you’re so fearful then that’s a sign God hasn’t called you, maybe there is an evil spirit leftover in you.” But instead of believing the enemy, as I did as a little girl, I then took these fears and worries to God.
As the burning desire in my heart to obey God’s prompting only increased, I finally cried out in frustration. I told God enough was enough. Either I was going to zip my lips, or He had better show me that He had indeed called me to speak His Word of encouragement that He had given me in prayer, through visions, to a family at my church.
Rather than rebuke me for my anger and unbelief, God met my weakness and sin with His perfecting power. Moments later, three separate affirmations arrived. A Scripture speaking directly into my situation dropped into my inbox and another person I’d asked for advice from shared how he had been receiving similar Scriptures to me. But most amazing of all was what began to unfold before me.
I was standing at a train station at the time, reading the two affirming emails, when a man approached me. He asked to borrow my phone to call his brother to let him know he’d be late. I was frightened by his dishevelled exterior and the alcohol I smelled on his breath. But not wanting to be rude, I offered to call his brother for him and tell him.
After I did so, the man thanked me profusely and suddenly began to share parts of his life story. He started by sharing his full (Hebrew) name and his Christian upbringing, without him knowing I was a believer. He went on to share of the incredible suffering his parents walked through and their inability to love him as he needed to be loved as a child. He then shared about his struggle to believe and to be freed from various addictions.
I listened intently, praying for God to fill me with the wisdom I lacked. I longed to help this man see how much God still loved him, yearned to comfort him and bring him healing. It’s then, as we sat together on the train, the Holy Spirit prompted me to openly share about the trauma I had walked through myself as a little girl and how God was leading me to a place of healing and forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit also provided a question to ask the man. It is this question that visibly moved the man. He kept repeating it and working through its implications. Suddenly, I saw compassion enter the man’s eyes as he spoke of his parents, rather than the hurt and bitterness that had been there moments earlier. The Lord was so clearly working in his heart.
I sat there beside him on the train, amazed. If it was not for the Lord’s promptings I would never have gone near this man. But God was not put off by my sinful judgement. He pressed me until I responded in grace and love as He wanted me to. He pressed me until I saw this man as He did. Until I loved him just as God had continued to love me through my own Prodigal years and still does now in my weakness and turning away.
After this experience I knew. I knew that even in my broken, newly returned Prodigal state, as I suffered from various symptoms of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, God was calling me to intercede and to speak encouragement into others’ lives. It’s then I knew the Scriptures and visions of Bible stories I was receiving in prayer were gifts from Him, not given to hoard, but to release. It’s then I discovered the truth of this Scripture for myself:
1 Corinthians 2: 3-5 (MSG) I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
And what happened to the family I interceded for and speak prophetic Scriptures over? I was given the honor and privilege of walking beside them through one of the most excruciating times of their life. I watched God pour hope and faith into them through the Scriptures and visions He gave me. Scriptures and visions that affirmed what God was already speaking to them personally.
God truly strapped the Word to my feet and had me walk His light into the darkness, bringing His Promise of eternal wholeness to an aching family: the same Promise He gave me:
Ephesians 6:15 ESV
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
I didn’t want them to experience such a deep loss and went through moments, where I tried to twist the Word God spoke to me for them, and tried to tell God how He had to show up for them. I tried to “work” earthly fulfillment for them, rather than resting in the Heavenly fulfillment of peace God wanted to give them. My weakness and sinful heart and doubts were laid bare once again. But God used even that to remind me who is the One to be worshipped and who is sovereign and to show me that my human frailty is no match for His love and grace.
My prayer is that more of you here will share your testimonies too. It’s by the Word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb that we slay the accuser of our brethren. It’s by boasting in our weakness and confessing our sins that we lift Jesus and His grace and mercy for all mankind high.
Did you know that to pray unceasingly also means to pray with “nothing in between” us and God? Isn’t that a beautiful picture? And to rejoice, give thanks and grace all come from the same root Word of grace. To rejoice means to lean towards grace and be glad in it. To give thanks means to acknowledge God’s grace works well. It’s all grace. Our free will is given us to choose grace, as God births the faith and trust we need to receive it.
What a story of the man on the train. You were so led of the Spirit!
We cry out and He answers: turning us into His hands and feet and blessing us also in the giving beyond measure. I was reading in Henri Nouwen’s letters and he spoke of Mother Teresa seeing the face of God in every human being. He truly is hiding in people all around us: praise Him for pouring out His Spirit to open our eyes by faith to see Him and love Him.
That’s such a good thought about seeing the face of Jesus in every human being. That is the plaque at the Care Center in our community.
I love that that’s on the plaque at your community Care Center. What does that Care Center do, Dee?
Anna,
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story of the man on the train.
God’s love is so beautiful, isn’t it? Praise God, He opens our blinded by judgment eyes to see as He does.
A song I pray blesses you all:
https://youtu.be/zCAdWs-ZyEk
What touches me are the words: “Each others’ needs preferring, for it’s Christ we’re serving.”
It’s so what God keeps asking me to see: Him in the person I want to hate, turn aside or judge. And then I weep in repentance, as He shows me HIS heart for them and I then see in that His grace upon grace showered upon me when I have been SO hard to live with and love.
11. How did this impact you this week?
God is light. If we walk in fellowship with him, we will have fellowship with one another. I am fearful of others, afraid that I will get hurt. This makes me tend to hide or act defensively at the least provocation. My defensive stance keeps me from true fellowship with others. It also keeps me from trusting the Lord.
I need to trust God to protect me from the arrows of others.
This is a deep root that I feel incapable of tearing out on my own. I need God to pull out the root. I am not sure yet what to do about this insight as it affects behavior toward even my closest loved one. I need the Lord to show me how I need to change in practical ways to love better, truer.
Hugs, Diane. I so empathize with what you shared. Being in this group has been exposing myself to that fear of being hurt so much. And I have felt the same defensiveness you speak of arise in me too.
God is so faithful to us in our need. He, like no other, knows the wounds we have borne (that He carried to His Cross so we wouldn’t have to bear their weight) and will help us through the triggers to receive His love and give it, when all we want to do is run and hide or fight or freeze. Know you are not alone in your very human struggles. I am right there with you, and so is Jesus.
And here a song for us both:
https://youtu.be/3zUAN0lGe10
The compassion we receive from Him will be the gift we give to others too.
“I need to trust God to protect me from the arrows of others.” So good!
The beautiful thing is that God is the One who builds up our trust in Him, as we come to Him. So, HE answers that need to trust we feel.
Diane: do you love the Psalms? If so, you will love this – a practice of writing Biblical laments. God sent it to me in the midst of such deep grief, and it has been so important in building up my trust in Him:
https://margaretfeinberg.com/broken-heart-god/
8. Part I. Read 1 John 1:5-7
A. What do you learn about God in verse 5?
God is light.
B. What are some qualities of light and of darkness?
Light brings clarity, feelings of renewal, and also growth.
Darkness brings confusion (not knowing where to go and what to do), feelings of being stuck or downward spiraling, and death.
C. What are we told in verse 6? Can you explain this reasoning?
We cannot have fellowship with God if we continue to walk in darkness (sin). This means we have not really allowed His light to shine on every recess of my life. It is like shutting him out.
D. What two promises are given for those who walk in the light in verse 7? Explain each.
We have fellowship with one another-there is nothing that can be in between us and our brethren
The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. All, not just a few or some. If we let Jesus shine His light on every aspect of our lives, His light brings things to the open and covers them all by His blood. There is nothing more to cleanse.
9. Part II. Holy Contemplation
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
I praise you God that you are all-knowing. We cannot go anywhere that your presence couldn’t be.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
To be ready to confess any sin when God shines His light on it.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
Fear of punishment; hiding from God rather than coming to Him in humility
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
Keeping the promises of God for forgiveness; coming to God to shine His light on my evil heart
E. Why are You telling me this today?
To reveal my sinfulness of pride and to humbly come before Him. To acknowledge that He is the one who convicts, who humbles me, and who forgives me.
10. Part III. Prayer
Lord, just when I think I making the Christian life, I would blow it. Just when I think that things are impossible, you show me that they are possible with you. Thank you for mending an unspoken rift between a co-worker and me. You used a situation far beyond my plan and made me realize that with you nothing is impossible. Thank you for answering my prayer for many years; your timing is always perfect. “Risen with healing in His wings” and because you lay your glory by so that man no more may die and give us a second birth. And with this second birth, you have brought me into your family. Hark the herald angel sing, GLORY to the newborn King!
Praise God for this answer to prayer! Thank you so much for sharing with us. It is always so encouraging to hear of answers to prayer. Amen! Nothing is impossible with You, LORD.
I love hearing about an “unspoken rift” being healed, Bing!