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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?
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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

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Prepare the Way for the Lord!

Day 3 of Jesus, I Need You – Part 2, a study of Thistlebend Ministries

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-14

… ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!  The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.  And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.”

 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ 

Luke 3:4-6, 8 NLT
Observation: What’s the Message?

“Prepare the way for the Lord, make His path straight,” basically – get all of the obstacles out of the way. from repentance of sins to everything else in-between, the goal was to help people be ready to meet the Messiah. The hope was those who heard the message would turn from their own ways to follow Jesus. We’ve looked at this message several times in this study – focusing on various aspects of it. However, in Luke’s version, what drew me in was John’s conversation with the crowds who were coming to be baptized. I’m sure he captured their attention with his flattery. I mean who doesn’t want to be addressed as a “brood of snakes”?   On top of that he critiques their behavior as sinful by challenging them to “prove they’ve repented and turned to God”, and their attitudes as arrogant, thinking they had no need to repent because they were ‘descendants of Abraham.’ He bluntly let them know that God could call or create children from any means He desired, even a stone. If that wasn’t enough he zeros in on the fallout they will face if they choose their way instead of God’s. Some may think John harsh but he was simply and faithfully doing what he was born to do – prepare the way for the Lord”. 

“You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”   Luke 3: 7-9
Application: How Then Should We Live?

It’s not the first time we’ve read about “bearing fruit” in this study. We’ve looked at the branches and the vine as well as the gardener and how he handles the branches. However, the first time we looked at it was when Jesus was teaching His disciples – while this time it is John trying to prepare those who have yet to meet Jesus. He wants them to understand that their repentance must lead to real change that produces fruit that makes the change visible. He especially doesn’t want them depending on their heritage in Abraham as their saving grace. While salvation places us into a community of faith it is not a communal faith. What I mean is this, each of us must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. I can not get to heaven because my mother took me to church all the time or my grandmother had faith in Jesus. Nor am I saved because my grandfather taught Sunday School or my father was a deacon. Perhaps most who are reading this understood this truth before you read it here but John’s listeners would not have understood. The Israelites made up the crowd that John was speaking to, and being descendants of Abraham, he desperately needed them to understand that their heritage did not, could not, and would not satisfy the call of repentance

While salvation places us into a community of faith it is not a communal faith.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, from the beginning You called us to be devoted to You. For Adam and Eve it was that “one rule” – and through the generations since that time it has been the same – Choose Your way over what our eyes see as pleasing or our hearts desire. Help us to heed these words of John – and live in ways that prove our repentance, producing fruit that displays love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and all things in accord with Your Spirit. So that others will see Jesus whom You sent to save the world.

Your Turn:

So what’s your take away from today’s Scriptures?

What are you doing or what can you do to prepare the way for the Lord?

Want More?

Go deeper with…

Thistlebend’s devotional

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Our First Love

Day 6 of Jesus, I Need You – Part 1, a study of Thistlebend Ministries

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:7

Anyone who has an ear to hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.

Revelation 2:7 HCSB
Observation: What’s the Message?

John is writing what Jesus has given him to say. This particular letter is being written to the Ephesian Church. So the word “anyone”, in verse 1, is referring to those who are part of the body of Christ. If they listen to the message being delivered they will be entitled to the “victor’s” prize, which is eating from the tree of life, located in heaven.

Here’s the thing though, if we only read this verse we know that there’s an amazing prize and we know that we need to listen to the Spirit, but without looking back we would miss the content of the message. Which was basically an evaluation of the Ephesian Church. Jesus acknowledges that their conduct has basically been above reproach. He commends them for their work and endurance, their unwillingness to tolerate “evil people”, their faithfulness in examining and calling out false “apostles”, and enduring hardships for the name of Jesus – without growing weary. Awesome accolades for sure! BUT … He goes on to tell them what He has against them and why. Namely, that they have abandoned their ‘first love’ – meaning Him. In other words they were rule followers but their love for Jesus had grown cold. One commentary I read explained it like this, “Sound doctrine and service are important, but they should be grounded in a deep love for Jesus.” The charge or challenge that would draw the victor’s prize wasn’t just listening to the Spirit but considering the truth of the charge against them, then repenting and returning to their first love. To ignore the charge would be to invite punishment that would extinguish their light as a church and witness for Jesus.

Sound doctrine and service are important, but they should be grounded in a deep love for Jesus.

Bibleref.com
 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  Revelations 2:1-5
Application: How Then Should We Live?

Through John’s writing, Jesus lays out the application very clearly. LOVE JESUS and follow His teachings. It’s not an either or proposition. When we love Him we will obey Him (John 14:15) and if we simply follow the rules without devotedly loving Him the acts of obedience mean very little.

Prayer: Response to The Word

Father, may we never abandon Jesus, our first Love. Where and when it dares to grow stale and cold, like the Church of Ephesus, please send a revival fire, keep our light burning strong, and renew a right Spirit within us. – Oh, let us listen to the Spirit that we might run the race with endurance and win the victor’s prize – and in this may You be glorified! – Amen

Want More?

Go Deeper with Thistlebend’s devotional post –

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s Scripture reading?
  • What are some things we can do to keep our love for Jesus fresh and strong?
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HOPE WAS ALWAYS COMING

Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-7, Isaiah 53 and 61:1-4; Psalm 22; 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 1:18-25;

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.

Isaiah 9:1-2
hope was always coming: The light in the darkness

The message of a prophet is not always easy to understand. They can often sound depressing or foreboding but if we keep reading we will most likely hear them deliver a message of hope. Such is the case in Isaiah chapter nine.

Having just mentioned the people living in darkness and despair, he then announces a time is coming when the land will be filled with glory and a great light will shine on those living in darkness. He speaks of a time when they will grow in number and be found rejoicing like those at harvest or warriors following a great conquest. Chains will be loosed, burdens lifted, and the rod of their oppressor will be broken – not because of great and wonderful things the people have done but because a baby will be born.

For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen!

Isaiah 9:6-7
HOPE WAS ALWAYS COMING:The victor

This baby was not a surprise. The baby was spoken of in the days of Adam and Eve, when God spoke to the serpent following the fall of man in the garden (Genesis 3:15). Yes, this child was the ONE who would one day defeat the enemy. From His birth to His ministry to His role as the sacrificial lamb, and even to the uncanny details of His death – imaged through the words of David – Jesus Christ is scattered throughout the old testament and fills the New Testament giving us the HOPE we have in Christ!

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15
Application: How then shall we live

Live with HOPE not despair

Walk in the LIGHT not the darkness

Keep your eyes on God and His promises, remember that all of His promises are yes and amen in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20) – the HOPE of the world (Matthew 12:21).

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory …

The nations will put their hope in His name. … And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. … And in his name the nations will hope.” … All nations will place their …

https://biblehub.com › matthew
Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, from the beginning You planned to give Your people HOPE and an everlasting future. You spoke it in the Garden and delivered the message through Your prophets, as well as King David and others. Your passion and commitment are obvious! Your promises are good and true – and in this we have HOPE! Yes and Amen – in Jesus!

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What Kind of Branch Are You?

Day 4 of “Jesus I Need You, part 1” A study by Thistlebend Ministries, as posted on Youversion

Scripture Reading: John 15:2; Isaiah 10:33-34, 11:1-5, 30:1-22, and ISAIAH 31

Hope in the Messiah

9 [a]Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 [b]The people who walk in darkness

    will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,[c]

    a light will shine.

John 15:2 NET
Observations: What’s the Message?

The message in John 15:2 is straight from the mouth of Jesus and will seem very familiar if you read Abide, from day one of this study. In “Abide” we focused on verse five, where Christ is talking to the disciples and uses a story or metaphor actually, about them being the branches and Him being the life-giving vine. Today we’re backing up to the first part of that conversation, where Christ has not only introduced Himself as the Vine but His Father as the Gardener. This may seem incidental to our story but in light of verse two, our focus verse, and all that follows – I believe it holds great importance in the conversation as well as our application. Read the two verses together.

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

John 15:1

Without the clarification of verse one we would not understand who is cutting off or pruning the branches, or for that matter why some are being cut off and what that means, as described in verse 2. In cases like this we put ourselves at risk for taking Scripture out of context. In light of this I dug a little deeper and found some helpful information at bibleref.com, It’s a little lengthy but quite helpful and interesting.

References to vines and vineyards are common in Scripture, picturing God as someone who plants and tends to the “vine” of His people. In this verse, there is a clear sense of expected growth. First mentioned is barrenness, then productivity, then abundance. In terms of our spiritual lives, this is how God expects us to progress. As part of that process, God removes and prunes the branches. While the analogy of the vine and branches is deep and important, it is like any other analogy in that it should not be taken out of context.

When Jesus refers to a “branch in me,” in this instance, the context does not imply those who are “saved.” Rather, focus is entirely on the analogy of a vine and branches. Some branches appear to be connected to the main body, but are not—those branches are dead and will never produce fruit. The vinedresser removes those branches, to allow room and resources for the living branches to accomplish their purpose. This relates to upcoming comments where Jesus refers to those who “abide” in Him (John 15:6).

In both the vine, and in our relationship to God, merely being “around” or “attached” to the concept of Christ is not enough. It is possible for a person to claim the name of Christ, and to associate with believers, and yet not have a life-giving connection to the “true vine” which is Jesus. Like a branch “in the vine” which produces no fruit, these are people who have attached themselves to the church, but are not connected to the Source of life. The One with ultimate knowledge and authority—God as the “vinedresser”—will eventually remove those false branches and discard them.

*What does John 15:2 mean? https://www.bibleref.com/John/15/John-15-2.html
Application: How Then Should We Live?

As followers of Christ we are not only meant to bear fruit, we are equipped for it, Galatians 5:22-26. We are meant to bring glory to the Father – our Gardener. We are meant to grow stronger and healthier and to be useful for Him (1 Peter 2:2 and Hebrews 5:14).

We can and should find strength and comfort in God as our Gardener. We would be wise to get to know Him more and more so that we know what pleases Him, Proverbs 4:20-22,. We need to remind ourselves throughout the pruning processes that we will undoubtedly endure during our life – that our Gardener makes no mistakes… He isn’t fickle… He loves greatly and faithfully… He sees the inside not just the outside…He is tender and compassionate… and He sees the beginning and the end.

Prayer: Response to the Word

Father, Master-Gardener, thank You for seeing the whole picture – for connecting us to “The Vine” so that we can draw breath and life and strength, and all that we need for the life You have called us to by grace through faith. Though it isn’t always pleasant, thank You for pruning us who belong to You and cutting away what does not belong so that we may grow stronger and healthier, producing even more fruit- and this for Your glory – AMEN!

Your Turn:

How connected are you to the Vine?

  • Is yours a life-giving connection or are you simply attached to the “concept” of Christ and His church?
  • How can you work on your connection to Christ, the Vine?
  • What kind of fruit are you producing?(see Galatians 5:22-23)
Want More?

Visit Thistlebend Ministries for their encouraging devotional – Be sure and check-out what comes after their devotional! It’s a great and profitable way to go deeper in the Word.