May 31st 2020
Have You Seen The Light?
John 8:12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
In the selected verse Jesus is giving assurance to all those who would choose to follow Him will be able to see truth through the light He supplies for them. Later John writes for us about another account of Jesus telling His disciples that He will allow them to see truth, or light, through Him. If He is with them, they will be able to see the true picture of this world. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:4-5). As His disciples learn from Him, they will eventually see the light, or the truth, in this cursed world through their own light. If they believe in Him and take Him on as their personal Savior, then they will eventually see the worldly truth through their own light!
Here we next see what Matthew wrote about this progress the disciples of Jesus are making to the point where they will not only see the light, but they will come to be the light, so other people can see the truth in this cursed world through them! "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16). Have you seen the light? Have you become the light for others so they can come to know the truth? Jesus later told us, His disciples how coming to see the truth through His teaching would let them see the light and thus know the truth, and such knowledge would give them, us, freedom from worldly lies. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and us, about how he worked on trying to appeal to other people so he could convince them to become Christians. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Paul tried to take on the attitudes of others, so they would include him in their click and therefore, listen to his opinions about what they needed to live a fulfilling life!
It seems in this country, and maybe the world, many people will view you as the enemy, if you do not agree with their views on life in this world! Many people seem they cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and then they seem to want to hate you and then just ignore you, or even worse they wish to harm you! Such people resort to “road rage” when they are driving, and they do ignorant things like run you off the road or slam their brakes on in front of your vehicle to cause a wreck. We see this same type of attitude when people feel a member of their society is unfairly oppressed. And they then set buildings on fire, and many come out and loot the stores. The strangest part of such mob rule is they usually inflict most this pent-up rage on their own neighborhood! So, these people supposedly are trying to get people in authority to treat them fairly, are getting the opposite result, and many of them end up spending time in jail for breaking the law! This causes more people to show more disrespect for them, and to have a fear of them in the future, which just the opposite of what the offended people wanted to have happen!
Paul also wrote about how all members of mankind through becoming followers of Jesus Christ will drop thinking differently about people who may look different than their family members, and grow to love them as brothers and sisters through salvation found through Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). Paul here wrote about how we can all become like one through working on becoming more like Jesus every day, and thus become as one through His love. As we seem to be losing the Christian love influence more in this country every day there seems to be more groups forming that want to only like the people that agree it them. If you do not agree completely with them, then they hate you and they will form group and picket anyone who seems to disagree with them. Yet, while these negative attitudes are showing hateful results, we see more positive attitudes coming forth to help those who are suffering because the pandemic work stoppages and suffering from requirements to stay away from other people. And of course, the great suffering for those who contract the virus.
Please try to dwell on all the positive attitudes we see occurring in this country as people who still have, are trying to help those who do not presently have good things. Is there someone you may be able to help in some way? Look to help others who are in need, and remember the greatest gift you can give someone is to tell them about Jesus Christ, and how knowing Him can make your everyday life much better, as you know there is more to life than just worldly possessions. Sorry for the negative thoughts that appear in this VOW. It is difficult to not be negatively affected by the turmoil all around us these days.
The current good news is that most churches are starting to offer worship service this coming Sunday, if they have not already started before then. I’m looking forward to being amongst fellow believers again, even though the closeness previously expected cannot occur, it will still be encouraging to be again worshipping together. Hope you can join other believer too and enjoy the fellowship again. Is there someone you can ask to join you there, and share in God’s love?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 8:12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
In the selected verse Jesus is giving assurance to all those who would choose to follow Him will be able to see truth through the light He supplies for them. Later John writes for us about another account of Jesus telling His disciples that He will allow them to see truth, or light, through Him. If He is with them, they will be able to see the true picture of this world. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:4-5). As His disciples learn from Him, they will eventually see the light, or the truth, in this cursed world through their own light. If they believe in Him and take Him on as their personal Savior, then they will eventually see the worldly truth through their own light!
Here we next see what Matthew wrote about this progress the disciples of Jesus are making to the point where they will not only see the light, but they will come to be the light, so other people can see the truth in this cursed world through them! "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16). Have you seen the light? Have you become the light for others so they can come to know the truth? Jesus later told us, His disciples how coming to see the truth through His teaching would let them see the light and thus know the truth, and such knowledge would give them, us, freedom from worldly lies. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and us, about how he worked on trying to appeal to other people so he could convince them to become Christians. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Paul tried to take on the attitudes of others, so they would include him in their click and therefore, listen to his opinions about what they needed to live a fulfilling life!
It seems in this country, and maybe the world, many people will view you as the enemy, if you do not agree with their views on life in this world! Many people seem they cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and then they seem to want to hate you and then just ignore you, or even worse they wish to harm you! Such people resort to “road rage” when they are driving, and they do ignorant things like run you off the road or slam their brakes on in front of your vehicle to cause a wreck. We see this same type of attitude when people feel a member of their society is unfairly oppressed. And they then set buildings on fire, and many come out and loot the stores. The strangest part of such mob rule is they usually inflict most this pent-up rage on their own neighborhood! So, these people supposedly are trying to get people in authority to treat them fairly, are getting the opposite result, and many of them end up spending time in jail for breaking the law! This causes more people to show more disrespect for them, and to have a fear of them in the future, which just the opposite of what the offended people wanted to have happen!
Paul also wrote about how all members of mankind through becoming followers of Jesus Christ will drop thinking differently about people who may look different than their family members, and grow to love them as brothers and sisters through salvation found through Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). Paul here wrote about how we can all become like one through working on becoming more like Jesus every day, and thus become as one through His love. As we seem to be losing the Christian love influence more in this country every day there seems to be more groups forming that want to only like the people that agree it them. If you do not agree completely with them, then they hate you and they will form group and picket anyone who seems to disagree with them. Yet, while these negative attitudes are showing hateful results, we see more positive attitudes coming forth to help those who are suffering because the pandemic work stoppages and suffering from requirements to stay away from other people. And of course, the great suffering for those who contract the virus.
Please try to dwell on all the positive attitudes we see occurring in this country as people who still have, are trying to help those who do not presently have good things. Is there someone you may be able to help in some way? Look to help others who are in need, and remember the greatest gift you can give someone is to tell them about Jesus Christ, and how knowing Him can make your everyday life much better, as you know there is more to life than just worldly possessions. Sorry for the negative thoughts that appear in this VOW. It is difficult to not be negatively affected by the turmoil all around us these days.
The current good news is that most churches are starting to offer worship service this coming Sunday, if they have not already started before then. I’m looking forward to being amongst fellow believers again, even though the closeness previously expected cannot occur, it will still be encouraging to be again worshipping together. Hope you can join other believer too and enjoy the fellowship again. Is there someone you can ask to join you there, and share in God’s love?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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