Tag: light

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Secure In Christ

Live In The Light

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ/w5d2

Read: Ephesians 5:6-14; SOAP: verse 8

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be sharers with them, 8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made visible. 14 For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”

Eph 5:6-14

We were all, at one time, children of the darkness. We may not like thinking about ourselves like this, but it is reality, and it is something we must not forget. Whether we were saved at a young age or in our older years, it is vital to our understanding and appreciation of God’s love through Christ that we understand we were born sinners. From the fall of man in the garden (Genesis 3:6), no child is born ‘good’ (Romans 3:10-11). Perhaps you know someone who isn’t saved but seems to live a good life. Their speech seems wholesome, their actions good, they may even go to church, but apart from the saving grace of God, they are a sinner condemned unclean (Romans 3:23). Which is why the Scriptures teach we must be born again, made new in Christ. (John 1:12-13),(2 Cor 5:17).

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Friend, while we were born into sin’s curse, we are not without hope. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would be saved (John 3:16). Jesus, the Son of God, is the hope and salvation of all who believe in His name (Romans 10:13). So that though we were, as Paul said, once in darkness, now we are light in the Lord and should live like the light. which Paul describes in verse 9 as being the evidence of Christ in us, or “fruit of the light” which will reflect Christ’s goodness, righteousness, and truth in us. Now, rather than participating in the deeds of darkness, we expose the darkness through the Light of Christ in us (John 8:12). 

When we live in the Light we expose the darkness –

This may be a kid’s rendition of the message Paul preached but it totally pulled me in and had me singing along and asking God to make it an everyday refrain of my life. So I’m sharing it with you, praying it encourages you as well. Sing along, and let it inspire you to make the message of Paul a brighter reality in your life today – and every day.

The More We Know

Today’s journal entry includes some very helpful insight/examples of ways we compromise with darkness today … too good not to share. May it be a blessing.

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Light of the World

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d4

Read and SOAP: matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Okay, friends, just as we did in our previous day’s journey, we need to look back at the verses that came before this one. Why? Because we need to understand what the phrase “in the same way” refers to. This is a very familiar verse to most who have been in church for any amount of time, however, while we know that we are supposed to be lights for Jesus so that God is glorified, do we understand how/what way we are supposed to let it shine? Also, do we understand that the light serves a specific purpose?

Let’s break it down ….

  • In the same way (this begs us to ask and answer the question: What way?
    • to find the answer, we must look back at what Jesus had just said to the disciples
      • “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (verses 14 & 15)
        1. in verses 14 and 15, “we see believers depicted as the light of the world. Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the Light of Christ so that all can see it in us. The Light is evident to others by the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (gotquestions.org)
        2. “The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do.” (gotquestions.org)
  • Let your light shine
    • this is a personal mission for followers of Jesus
  • before people
    • there is a collective target
  • so that they can see your good deeds
    • there is a specific reason and
  • and a targeted outcome
    • God receives honor in Heaven
The More We Know

We should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15), for the gospel Light we have is not to be covered, but made obvious for all to see and benefit from, that they, too, may leave the darkness and come into the Light.

Gotquestions.org

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Fruit of the Light

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation w4d2

Scripture For the Journey
Read: Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:8-9/SOAP: Gal 5:22-23;Eph 5:9

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.


Galatians 5:22-26

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Ephesians 5:8-9
Observations of the Journey

There are some Scriptures that are familiar to most believers – and I would venture to say that the passage about the fruit of the Spirit is familiar to most who are reading this post. If it isn’t, I will be so bold to say that it should be. Why? Because the truth represented in these verses can make a difference in how we are known. – Are we seen as Christ’s followers or as those who follow the ways of the world – or- perhaps, even worse selection – are we seen as a little of both?

Consider these words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea and decide which testimony would be the worst one. Jesus said, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” 1 In today’s passage from Ephesians 5:8-9, Paul explains it like this to the believers in Ephesus: “You were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. So, live like children of light- for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

The contrast between dark and light goes all the way back to Genesis and is used to compare evil and good. Our journey today reveals that “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.” When we are living by the Spirit, our lives will reflect the glory of God rather than the evil of the world and our old nature. Paul makes it very clear that when we choose the way of the world and give free rein to our old sinful nature, it doesn’t end well. –  

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,2 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,3 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.4“
Galatians 5:19-21

None of these sins should describe the ongoing lifestyle of one who is free and forgiven in Christ and powered by the Holy Spirit.

Bibleref.com/Galatians 5:20

I shared a post on Sunday (on my Facebook page) that included a glance at the week ahead and a challenge concerning your/our testimonies. The jest of the post was the role our testimonies play, why they’re essential to our faith, and how it’s helpful to write them down. In the post, I shared a short and not-so-short example as well as prompts to help you with yours. If you haven’t seen the post – I encourage you to take a look at it later and find some time in the week ahead to jot down yours. .

Application: Living out the Journey

Today’s journey has reminded me that part of my testimony includes keeping one foot in the ‘church’ and one foot in the ‘world.’ – I became very good at it. I say this not with pride but as a reminder to everyone reading this post: It is up to us how we live. We can choose to walk faithfully in the light, or we can choose to tiptoe in the light and dabble in the darkness. However, I’m can tell you from experience that this is a very dangerous way to walk. It damages not only our testimony but likely will cause others to stumble or question the validity of our faith and/or the importance of our God and His ways. – “Worse still, the cause of Christ will be damaged as unbelievers scoff and sneer at us and blaspheme His name.”5

Friends, if we are living like children of the light, we will not be lukewarm. We will shine brightly with the “Light of Jesus,” we will be seen flowing with the “fruit of His Spirit,” who lives in us and empowers us to thrive in the ways of God, ways that reveal His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Don’t be fooled; without His power and direction and a commitment to live by the Spirit, we will readily yield to our old sinful nature and appear as though we are still in ‘darkness.’ When this happens, “the Christian life turns into a destructive and self-serving religious existence.” This is why we must learn how to ‘live by the Spirit.’ It is without question an essential part/requirement of a firm foundation.

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for saving me out of the darkness into glorious Light. Thank You for pursuing me in the wilderness and pulling me from the pit of destruction. Thank You for changing me from the inside out and teaching me to trust that You are working all things together (the past, present, and future) together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose! Thank You for the reminder not only of the importance of being a faithful follower of Christ – but, as Paul said, of keeping in step with the Spirit. Show us how to stay in step and help us practice it well – so that our lives do not turn into destructive and self-serving religious existences – but instead, may they flourish by Your Spirit’s power and be beautiful testimonies of Your Presence in us. This is my hope and plea in Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Worship Response to the Journey

I’m sure there are so many other songs that could be sung in response to today’s journey, but this is the one that kept flowing through my mind – though I really thought it was “testimony,” and not “sanctuary” – actually both work in connection to our passages from yesterday and today.

The More We Know

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 6th-Day of Christmas

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Originally posted December 31, 2020

Scripture – Revelation 22:16; Name of Jesus – The Bright Morning Star; Ornament – Star

Today, on this 6th-Day of Christmas I have unwrapped the “STAR”, an ornament that symbolizes God’s Gift of Jesus, The Bright Morning Star. He is God’s son, my Savior – begotten of God – not created – God in flesh – greater than any created being. He is more powerful than Satan or any ruler on earth – The Prince of Peace and the Giver of all true LIGHT. As the wise men followed the star to find the Baby Jesus, when I follow Christ, The Bright Morning Star, I will find the awe and “excitement, and the LIGHT of that perfect day when He will raise us up to live with Him in heaven to worship Him forever.”

Father, Thank You for Your Gift of The Bright Morning Star, who is Christ the Lord! Spirit, help me to keep my eyes on Him from here to eternity – where, like the wise men, I will bow down in worship of Him who no longer lies in a manger, or hangs on a cross, or remains in the tomb – but who sits at the right hand of Your throne in Heaven!

Me – from the Insideout

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 5th-Day of Christmas

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originally posted on December 30, 2020

Scripture – John 8:12; Name of Jesus – The Light of the World; Ornament – Candle

God is good and in His goodness He sent LIGHT to those walking in darkness. He extended His goodness to “All Men” and to those who have believed – He has given the right to be called the sons of God. He has filled them with His Spirit – that others may see the LIGHT of Christ and want to know and follow Him. So, on this 5th-Day of Christmas, I celebrate Christ, The LIGHT of the world! May His LIGHT be seen in me. May it light up the darkness and shine out for all to see that they might give praise to God in heaven. Me – From the Insideout

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16
Posted in Bible study, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

The Impact of God’s People

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based on: Not Made to Be Alone, an Love God Greatly Study / w4d2

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:13-16 / SOAP: 14-16

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16
Be the light

God’s people are important to His process of calling others to Himself. Consider the words of Paul to the Romans, in chapter 10:13-14 – where he writes, “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?” And don’t forget the “great commission” of the [church] to be His hands and feet and the mouth pieces though whom He speaks.

Like a light in a dark room we are meant to help others see their way out of the darkness to God. So what we say and do is meant to draw attention, not to us, but to our deeds and words – which should reflect God in us and in return reflect honor and glory back to Him.

Response to God’s Word

Father let the words of our mouths and the actions we take or the countenances and responses we have reflect Your love in us and our love for You – so that in all things You receive the glory – Forever Amen+

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Quiet Time

Perspective

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THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM ANN VOSKAMP’S ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things.
It is this: to give thanks in this one small thing.The moments will add up

If gratitude is an antidote for anxiety…
and giving thanks is a real cure for stress—
why relegate thanksgiving to a holiday *when giving thanks can revolutionize our whole lives?*

So I just keep doing this, recording the gifts, gather the moments of His grace like manna.

Because joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. – And if we are going to change our lives, we’re going to have to change the way we see.

This recording our gratitudes, this looking for blessings everywhere, this counting of gifts — this is what changes what we are looking for. *This is what changes our perspective.*

Thanksgiving is the lens God means for us to see joy all year round.

Because Thanksgiving is more than holiday—

So wherever you are, count your blessings, collect gifts, count it all joy.

Because it’s the brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful, who give thanks for it & discover joy even in the here and now —- they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world.

YOUR TURN: WHAT GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE YOU FOCUSING ON TODAY? WHAT JOYS CAN YOU GIVE THANKS FOR AND BRING LIGHT TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU?
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Uncategorized
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LIFE AND LIGHT

Day 4 of Jesus, I Need You – Part 2, a study of Thistlebend Ministries

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-28

In the beginning the Word already existed.

    The Word was with God,

    and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

    and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,

    and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

    and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 

John 1:1-8 NLT
Observation: What’s the Message?

The message could just be that Jesus is the Word, that He was with God in the beginning, or that He was involved in all of creation. Certainly, before today when I thought about John chapter one that is the message I would have repeated. However reading it again today I was reminded that there is perhaps an even deeper more pertinent message – and that is that “life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. His was a light that could not be overcome by the darkness – a light that God sent so that all might believe and be saved through Him. A light that never goes out and is never overcome by the darkness. His is the light that guides our path and leads us to God.

Application: How Then Should We Live?

Day after day the Scriptures we have been going through point us to our need for Jesus. The one John the Baptist was sent to announce and prepare the way for. The One who is The Vine, our source of life enabling us to bear fruit. The One who is our Hope. The One who saves us from being alienated from God. The One who “became human and made His home among us … and who revealed God to us. The One who is both life and light to those living in darkness, dead in their trespasses and sins.

These truths, that in one way or another led us all to Christ, are the truths we are meant to cling to, motivation to seek Him daily and that remind us – we are to be lights for Him – the One true Light! We are messengers sent by God into all the world to bear witness of Him and testify of Him so that all will be believe and be saved.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for shining the Light of Jesus into the world, and especially – into my life so that I might be saved!. Thank You for those You sent to share the message with me, to testify about Jesus so that I might hear the good news and know who Jesus is! Father, may I be Your messenger and testify of Your goodness so that others might believe and be saved – In Jesus’ name –

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s message?
  • How can you be a messenger?
  • What can you testify about Jesus?
  • What do you believe you were sent from God to do?
Want More?

Go deeper with…

  • What does John 1:7 mean?  John the Baptist’s role as a witness is central to verse 7. He is sent to tell other people about the coming Messiah, which is Jesus. “Light” was the ultimate standard for Israel. Everything good was said to be “light,” evil was “darkness.” This not only implies good and evil, but knowledge and darkness. Just as Moses, the Old Testament law, and the temple were small lights pointing to Jesus, John the Baptist is a tiny light leading people to the One True Light. And, not just so that they would see, but so that they would believe. John’s ministry heavily revolved around baptism, which was already known to Jews of that time. Jews would sometimes baptize a person who wanted to convert to Judaism. But the Baptist was “converting” Jews! This is one reason he was interrogated by local religious leaders: why would God’s chosen people need to repent and convert? Bibleref.com

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Out of the Darkness Into the Marvelous Light

Today’s Reading: John 12:12-50

 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness

John 12:44-46

Clarification

In John 8:12, Jesus introduced Himself as “The Light of the World”, the One who would keep those who believed in Him from walking in darkness and give them life. He expounds on that truth in today’s passage, clarifying that not only did His LIGHT allow them to see in the “darkness” but it enabled them to see the Father who sent Him. To reject or look away from The Light is to reject salvation, the only true way to eternal life with God, John 14:6

Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12
If They Do Not Hear

In Romans 10 Paul shares his longing for all of Israel to be saved but writes of the reality that they have rejected God’s way to make themselves right with Him because they continue to believe it is what they do that saves them. He continues on with his teaching that it is by faith and not by works. It’s by believing what you hear and making a profession of that belief that salvation comes, and he clarifies that this is true for “everyone”, Jew or Gentile, who believe. In verse 14 of Romans 10, Paul then raises the question: How can they believe if they do not hear?

These writings of Paul came to mind as I read through John 12, specifically verses 17 and 18 where he wrote that the crowd who had seen Lazarus come out of the tomb were continuing to testify about it and because of this the crowd in Jerusalem went out to meet Jesus because they had heard about Him performing the miraculous sign. Knowing it was time for Him to be glorified, Jesus uses an analogy with His disciples in conjunction with His statement about being glorified: “…unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.”

What stands out to me here is that by the death of Jesus, many more were saved and are still being saved today! Because His Light continues in and through us. When we “continue testifying” about Him (17-18), what He’s done for us, what we’ve seen Him do for others, and what He says He’s going to do it impacts others. When we fail to testify about Him, when we love the praise/approval of man more than the praise/approval of God (42-43), we impact others. The question is – what goal have we set before us? God’s approval or man’s? God sent His Son to be The Light of the world and He has called us to be lights of the world – how can we be anything less?

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14
The Light

In our focus/SOAP passage today Jesus once again is heard pointing people to the Father, saying that to believe in Him was really to believe in the One who sent Him, and not only that but to see the One who sent Him. Jesus wanted them to know – He wants everyone to know that He is the LIGHT, reflecting and allowing all who believe to see their way out of the darkness to the Father.

Application

Jesus has “shone” me the way to the Father – because of His LIGHT I can see the Father. Because I have heard from The LIGHT and seen The LIGHT – I AM SAVED!

Because I am saved I am called to share Jesus with others – to make Him known in word and deed and actions- I am called to be the light of the world

Prayer

Father, Thank You for Jesus, the Light! The Light that You sent to seek and save the lost out of darkness into the glorious light!! THE LIGHT that led me to You! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Don’t forget the LGG Blog Post for today

Posted in God is good

Jesus, Light of the World

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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.”

John 8:12

Father, You are Good. As James says, You are the giver of every perfect gift, James 1:17. You are the giver of the gift of LIGHT and LIFE to You be the glory. For in your goodness You have given us The Light that shines in the darkness. Light that leads to life according to John 8:12. Light that frees us to follow Jesus out of the darkness. It frees us to to be the light to the darkness around us, to love like He loves, to be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving others as You, in Your goodness, have forgiven us. It is a light, the only TRUE SOURCE OF LIGHT, that shines through us and leads others to You.

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.

Matthew 5:16

Thank You for the ‘gift of Light’ that has led me to Life in Jesus Christ, and for the joy that comes from both. Joy that comes from not walking in the darkness but in the glorious light, and in the joy that comes from ‘life in Christ’, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17