pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: light


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Resurrection Faith

As Christians we are called to walk in the light of Christ and to share that light with those in darkness.  Sometimes we ourselves wander off the past and into darkness but Jesus is faithful – He always calls us back to the light.  The path we are to walk is lit by the love of Christ.  When we are on track and living as a disciple of Jesus, in that light we have fellowship with Him and with one another.

We live in a world that is increasingly in darkness.  We live in a world where less and less of each successive generation is involved in a faith community.  Roughly 30% of the current millennial generation is part of a community of faith.  Only 50% of the previous generation is part of such a community.  This is the world in which we live.  Many, many people do not know Jesus; some have never even heard the name.

It is into this world of darkness that we are called to cast His light.  We cast the light by offering unexpected love and kindness.  We share the light by offering unlimited forgiveness.  We bring light into people’s lives through acts of extreme service.  In other words, we do the things that Jesus did.

People in our world who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus do not want to hear about our faith.  They want to see it lived out.  They want and need to see how this Jesus makes a difference in our lives and how He can make a difference in their life.  Once people see and experience our resurrection faith – a faith that is willing to do whatever is needed – then they too will be drawn to the light and the Spirit will begin to work in their lives as well.  It is the Spirit that does the real work. Our call is simply to share our resurrection faith.

Scripture reference: 1 John 1:5 to 2:2


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In the Name

The scripture “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” comes in Psalm 118.  At the time it was written it surely represented an actual person.  In the Gospels, this person was seen as Jesus.  This interpretation fits with the psalm as Jesus was delivered from death by God and He certainly brought and brings the good news through His resurrection.

The “one” can also mean another.  It can be you or me.  The language of the psalm is open enough that it anyone who has survived a trial via God’s mercy and strength could find their own story in the psalm.  It is so true that we are blessed when we come in the name of the Lord and lay our burdens at His feet.

We can also be the ‘one’ in another manner.  It can be us who bring the good news brought in the psalm.  Through us, His light can shine.  We can bring the story of Christ and his righteousness to others through our witness.  We can praise His name and declare all the ways we are thankful for His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Verse 29 declares, “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”  We can do this on Sunday as we worship and offer our thanksgiving for our blessings and for His presence in our lives.  We can also do this on Thursdays, Mondays, Saturdays, Wednesdays, … as we live out our lives as an example of one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Scripture reference: Psalm 118: 1-2 and 25-29


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Called to Light

In the Gospel of John he speaks frequently of the light and eternal life.  He speaks of Jesus being the light that shines in the darkness and how the lights shows things as they are.  We are intended to live in the light that is shed by Jesus, God’s Son.

John draws some contrasts for us: living and perishing, saved and condemned, doing right and doing evil.  Depending on the day and the moment, we all live somewhere along these continuums.  We all want to permanently be on the living/saved/doing right end of the line, but the reality is that we are imperfect and fail now and then.

The messages of the world and our own human tendencies pull us towards the perishing/condemned/doing evil end of the spectrum. It is a constant battle.  The Holy Spirit, through the power of Jesus, is always shining the light into our darkness.  The light dispels the dark and exposes us for what we are.

Broken yet redeemed.  Sinful yet forgiven.  Lost yet found.  Human yet loved by God Almighty.  We are each loved enough that God sent His only Son to die for each of us.  Jesus came, died, and was resurrected not to condemn but to save.  He came to bring eternal life.  He came to shine light into darkness.  We are called to live into these truths.  What is our response?

John 3: 14-21


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Imperfect Yet Loved

As imperfect people we are prone to sin.  Temptation is around us all day, from the leanings to think unkind thoughts all the way up to the more serious actions we may ponder.  In the mix, pride and rationalization toy with us and society tells us anything is okay, just go for it.  Yet an innate part in all of us also senses when we are about to do something wrong, whether to self or another, and it cautions us.

Even though we can admit to all of this, at times we are still reluctant to admit our sins, to bring our faults out into the light.  Often sin is also seen as a shortcoming or a weakness – things we are unlikely to admit to as well.

But perhaps the biggest thing that holds us back from admitting our sins is the idea that once we confess our sin before God, then it is out there and we are called to repent, to begin to battle that sin in our life, to turn away from it.

In Psalm 51, David writes, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.”  Our sins too are between us and God alone, for He alone can offer the mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing of our soul that we so need.  David goes on to ask God to “create a pure heart within” – something we all need as well.

We are imperfect.  We all sin.  Our God of steadfast love and unending mercy knows this.  When we come with a broken and contrite heart, His love washes over our sin and He renews our spirit.  In turn, may our lips sing His praises!

Scripture reference: Psalm 51: 1-17


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The Light

Light is pretty cool.  Have you ever watched the light creep across the land as the sun slowly rises in the morning?  As it rises slowly above the horizon, the light flows across objects, illuminating them and making them visible.  In time, all is bathed in the light.

Psalm 50 speaks of God gathering His faithful people to Him.  It also reminds us that His light will shine forth as He judges all people.  One day we will all stand before our God.  On that day, will we be found faithful?

Each and every day God seeks to shine forth in our hearts.  His light and love desire to fill us.  His Spirit seeks to guide and lead us.  Both God and the Holy Spirit cast light into our lives.  Just like the sun as it creeps up, His light shines into all of our bumps, cracks, and crevices.  And what is revealed?

Sometimes we like to think that we still have our hidden spots – those things we cling to and try to convince ourself that God does not know about.  But all is bathed in His light.  God sees and knows all.  We are only fooling ourselves.

As we come to understand this, we become more willing to admit all to God.  Our lives become more honest and transparent.  Our lives align more with His will and purpose for us.  Soon our light begins to shine brighter, for others to see.  As we grow to walk more and more in His ways, may our light dispel the darkness both within and around us.  May the light guide us and those around us closer and closer to our God.

Scripture reference: Psalm 50: 1-6


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Relationship Through Christ

God desires to be in a relationship with us.  God’s love should draw us to Him.  His free gift of salvation through Jesus is proof of that love.  A relationship with God should be the foundation of our life.

There are other faces that people see as God.  Some only know of God as vengeful and jealous, distant at best.  Some only know of a God ready to strike us down when we sin.  Some know God as one who expects perfection from us.  If one of these is the God we know, then entering into a relationship with Him is difficult.

God’s love is shown in Jesus.  Jesus was not vengeful or jealous but was willing to say what needed said, but always with love.  Jesus never struck anyone down but did cause them to look within and to see what needed cast out.  Jesus was perfection and calls us towards perfection.  Jesus experienced life as a human and can relate to our struggles.  His is the first hand there to lift us up after we have failed.

Relationship with God must come through His Son, Jesus Christ.  As we come to build this relationship, we are drawn to share it with others.  When others see love and nothing else as our motivation, they too are drawn towards faith.  Today may we be the light and love that our world needs.

Scripture reference: Psalm 62: 5-12


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Perspective

Perspective is an important thing.  As followers of Christ, we believe He will return one day to bring final judgment.  It could be today, next week, or in two thousand years.  From this perspective we live each day prepared for this to be the day.  In a sense we live with one eye always on heaven and our eternity.

Yet we must also keep today in perspective.  We cannot live detached from this world as we await the next.  Even if our lives in this world, though we may live to be hundred, are just a flash in the spectrum of eternity, each day still matters.  Each person and encounter is an opportunity to be Christ’s light and love.  Each is a chance to affect someone else’s eternity.

In the here and now it is our relationships that matter most.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ takes priority because it does reflect and impact the eternal.  And all of our present relationships are also important as each person is a child of God and has worth.  Each person – from our family members to the person we meet on the sidewalk – matters.

How we choose to live in each moment does impact our eternity.  All the choices, decisions, and actions play a role, as does the lack of action…  As we go through our day today, may our eyes be open, may our hearts be willing, and may our ears be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31


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Imagine a World

Isaiah calls us to rise and shine our light.  Imagine a world with all Christians shining their light!  What a beautiful sight that would be.

Too many people do not feel they can shine.  For some, they simply do not know the Word.  But for others, society and the people in their lives have worn them down, told them for too long that they are worthless.  But this is so untrue.  Each and every person is a child of God.  Each is loved by God.  Each is as important as the next.

Every person also has a small light burning within their heart.  God’s presence is undeniable – although some try.  As believers it is our call to fan the flame, to help it grow in all we know.  It is our call to build each other up to see each’s value in God’s eyes.

Imagine a world with all Christians shining their light!  Oh how the darkness will flee!!

Scripture reference: Isaiah 60: 1-6


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The Word Became Flesh

“In the beginning” is how John begins his gospel. He draws us back to the beginning because Christ was there too.  In this connection back to Genesis we also get the start of Christ’s story.  Until God spoke, our ‘world’ was only chaos and darkness.  Until God spoke.  He spoke the world into being.

Last night we celebrated another creation that God spoke into being.  He said to Mary, “you shall bear a son” and it was.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Through His life Jesus brought us life and light, grace and mercy.  For a second time God spoke and the darkness fled.

When we see Christ as both ancient and also as new, we catch a peak into the holy mystery.  It is that beautiful place where heaven and earth meet.  In this place the light again conquered the darkness.  The darkness shall never overcome the Light.  Here Christ’s glory is revealed.  As the Word becomes flesh and dwells within us, heaven and earth again meet.  From within this imperfect vessel that is each of us, may Christ’s light shine forth this day and every day.  Merry Christmas!!

Scripture reference: John 1: 1-14


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True Light, Eternal Freedom

In Isaiah 9 we find a passage that bridges the time in which he was writing with the time when Jesus lived with our time today.It speaks of what was, what is, and what will be.  By virtue of its timelessness, it is perfect for today.

Throughout time people have craved for light to shine in the darkness, for evil to be overcome.  Isaiah’s words, “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light”, bring hope.  He writes about breaking the yoke of oppression, of ending the foreign dominance.  In Jesus’ day it was the Romans on one level and the religious leaders on another level.  Today the things that oppress us vary greatly – from the self-imposed to things out of our control.  Forever and always we will long for freedom.

Into the midst of the oppression and the longing for freedom from all that burdens us steps the Christ child.  Tonight we celebrate Jesus’ birth – the entrance of the True Light, the arrival of eternal freedom.  Embrace these truths as we gather tonight to welcome Him into the world and into our lives.

Isaiah 9: 2-7