Day: February 7, 2017

Daily Reading 2-8-17

John 8:12-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Darkness is terribly unsettling at times.  Especially, when you are looking to focus on something in order to find your way.  During those times, any source of light is helpful to give perspective or guidance.  When the children of Israel were wandering through the dark wilderness, God provided a pillar of light to guide them.  Get that Old Testament picture into your thoughts.  

 

Let’s move to the New Testament and our passage for today.  Jesus was at the Temple  teaching during the Festival of Booths; a time to remember when Israel wandered through the wilderness and how God provided for them.   As we read today’s passage we understand the Light to guide God’s people through the wilderness was a picture of Jesus and his work to save.  Today, Jesus is still available to be the Light that safely guides our lives in a dark world, but we must follow the Word.

 

John 8:12-19  Jesus, the Light of the World

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

 

13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”

 

14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father[a] who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.[b] 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”

 

19 “Where is your father?” they asked.

 

Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”

 

Prayer:  Father, thank you for connecting the testaments of your provision and salvation to a dark world.  Jesus is my Light and my salvation.  I am so grateful for His brightness to guide.  Bless this day.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 2-7-17

2 Corinthians 4:1-12New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Living the Christian life in the power of the Spirit is a wonderful gift from God.  As we live in that power, people respond to Christ in us.   The Word of God is essential to that power.  The Good News is the creative word of God that brings spiritual life and understanding.  When we choose to love and apply that word to our lives it becomes extremely powerful in and through us.  Humility is necessary because we can never forget we are fragile human creatures occupied by a holy all-powerful God.  As you go through your day, please do not forget, if you know Jesus—the Son of God—you are the dwelling place of His loving presence. 

 

In our reading today, the Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth about a holy God in clay jars.

 

2 Corinthians 4:1-12  Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

 

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

 

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the work of Jesus and the privilege of being filled with your spiritual presence.  Help me to submit to your Word and to apply it to my life, so I may be a powerful witness of what you accomplish through me.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.