Read John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Total darkness. I experienced it once when some adventurous friends of mine dragged me along when they went spelunking, or cave exploring. We hired a guide. Then we dressed in heavy work clothes with gloves, boots, and miners’ hats. Soon we were hiking deep into the cave, sometimes crawling on our stomachs through narrow passages.
Finally we stood in the middle of a huge cavern with icicle-shaped rock formations, a small stream, and bats. Our guide told us to sit down and turn off our lights. We thought our eyes would adjust to the darkness, but they didn’t. Eerily, even though we held our hands in front of our faces, we couldn’t see our fingers. When the guide finally turned on his light, we were at first blinded by the brightness. But then we felt a floor of relief. As we turned on our own lights, they seemed somehow to be more precious then before. We were so thankful to be able to see.
Before Jesus came into the world, mankind lived in darkness. The Lord’s blinding light caused many to be in anguish. Accustomed to their dark and evil ways, they were exposed by His pure light. But some were drawn to the light, experiencing a sense of relief mixed in with their remorse. They were to become light-bearers themselves, spreading the truth of Jesus to others. “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God” (John 3:21).
More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus brought His pure light to earth. Although His followers are still being persecuted, tortured, and killed, His light continues to shine through them. Be a bearer of light to those around you. No matter how small, flickering, or humble your light, the darkness cannot overcome it. And others will find themselves drawn to that light-experiencing relief and gratitude that they too can finally see Jesus.
-Gini Barney-
Responding - Who among my friends or family needs the light of Jesus?
Following - Jesus is the light of life.
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Read John 14:1-4 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
The classic World War II movie, The Longest Day, portrays one of the German army’s clever military strategies. After the Allies had conquered the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, their orders were to assemble in town of St. Mere-Eglise in France. When they landed on the shores and saw the sign for St. Mere-Eglise, they proceeded in that direction. There was only one problem… the Germans had turned the sign to point in the opposite direction
Unknowingly, the Allied Forces marched in the wrong direction. The hero of the Allied forces, played by John Wayne, showed up just in time to rescue them from the Germans’ trap. One glance at his compass told him they were heading for disaster. “Hey, where’s everybody going?” he shouted. “Am I the only one here with a compass? It’s east. Somebody moved the sign!”
That’s one of Satan’s old tricks! He’ll do anything to get us to march in the wrong direction all the while thinking that we are really OK! Jesus, on the eve of His death, wanted to prepare His friends for the battle ahead. He knew that the disciples would be confused and disoriented by the enemy, so He lovingly assured them of victory and pointed them toward their final destination… heaven. He’s done the same for us and assures us that regardless of the forces that might come against you today, heaven is just ahead. The victory is ours!
Jesus won the victory on “D-Day” when He died on the cross for you! He intended to set your heart on heaven! To reach your ultimate destination… don’t get lost! Keep the sign in view, “Heaven - This Way.” But beware! Satan wants to distract and disorient you. He craftily points the sign toward an illicit affair, a promotion that requires a compromise or even some innocent desire that takes your heart off Jesus and your final destination. When we think we’ve got heaven here, the enemy has won the day. But it’s not too late to get back on track. Jesus holds the compass. He knows the territory and He is calling us to follow Him all the way to heaven.
Listen. He may be shouting to your heart… “Hey, you’re going the wrong way!”
-Joe Stowell-
Responding - What worldly things have I been pursuing lately? What steps can I take to ensure that I am heading in the right direction?
Following - Don’t be fooled… Be sure you’re heading in the right direction.
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Read 1 Corinthians 7:17 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
The bible teaches that the purpose of life is to know Christ and to make ultimately only found in that one purpose - to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
How do I do that? Begin by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord. It’s not easy, but it is as simple as A-B-C.
A: Accept the fact that you are a sinner. That shouldn’t be hard - it you’re in doubt, ask your family. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Because we are sinners, we are under the just condemnation of a holy God. If you died this moment without the Lord in your life, you would go straight to hell. That may sound harsh. But listen, it isn’t. This is because God has made a way out for you through His Son Jesus Christ.
B: Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin. Jesus lived a perfect life; He fied on a cross, and there He paid the penalty for your sin so that God could rightously forgive you. If God was just going to let everybody into heaven, Jesus would not have had to come. But we have a radical problem that has to get solved or we are not going to heaven. So God did the radial thing and sent His Son to demonstrate His love for us. Romans 5:8 says, “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Do you believe that?
C: Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Your next step is to openly acknowledge Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 says, “if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” You can be forgiven and your life can be transformed. You can know Him personally. When you do, your life will never be the same. Make sure today.
-James MacDonald-
Responding - Do I know Jesus Christ as Lord? To whom am I making him known?
Following - The purpose of your life is to know Christ and make Him known.
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Read Psalm 16:9-11 and 119:105 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
When you boil it all down, this is what you’ve got: You can live a wasted life or you can live a wise life. It all comes down to the trail you choose.
Throughout history, there have been many famous trails. The Appalachian Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Natchez Trace, and the Chisholm Trail are just few of the renowned trails of America’s early days. These were our nation’s first interstate systems.
But no matter what trail you might be talking about, history shows again and again how wise it is to stay on the trail. If you were going to Oregon, it made a lot of sense to follow the Oregon Trail, instead of trying to blaze your own way. It doesn’t take a lot gray cells to figure out why.
It look countless heartbreaking trips down dead-end trails before the right one was established. But those who had gone before finally found a trail that had all the essentials. And you could count on the fact that those trailblazing pioneers marked the trail for those would come after them.
The trail, then, was the path of wisdom. If you stuck to it, you could hope to find water, grazing for your animals, shelter, and resting places along the way.
Maybe you’ve never thought much about it, but you are on a trail, too. Right now, at this very instant. And just like the early pioneers, you’re hoping to find everything you need on it.
It may be the right trail, or it may be the wrong trail, but either way, you’re smack-dab in the middle of it. If you’re on the wrong trail, there’s still time to change your direction. If you’re on the right trail today, you could choose the wrong trail tomorrow. Every day when you get out of bed, you choose the trail all over again.
The Christian life is a trail. It’s one that begins at conception and ends at death. Perhaps now, you’re about to make a decision. A crucial decision. Which trail are you going to follow - and who are you counting on the blaze the trail for you?
-Steve Farrar-
Responding - Have I trudged though a wrong trail? What can I learn from my path?
Following - The trail of my life is marked by a set of nail-scarred footprints.
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Read Romans 5:1-4 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Paul passionately listed the blessings we have in Christ Jesus: justification, peace with God, access by faith into grace, and hope of God’s glory. What blessed assurance! Then in verse 3 he states, “more than that, we rejoice in our suffering.” By seeing suffering as a blessing, Paul encourages us to adopt a joyful attitude.
“Count it all joy,… when you meet trials of various kinds,” write James (1:2). Why? Because “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (v.3). Through trials and tribulations God works for us, not against us. Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We will experience difficulties, but how we view them by faith is essential.
Because of my husband’s health problems, our faith was put on the test many times. As shocking as it was then when he was faced with open-heart surgery, we were never afraid. After the successful surgery, however, he developed a staph infection and became very sick. For 3 months, he battled the infection as the doctors were forced to reopen the incision three times. Fear crept into my heart, and my faith began to weaken. As we prayed and kept our focus on Jesus, we began to see what He was doing through us.
Because we were trusting God for the outcome - no matter what it would be - our testimony of resilient faith affected those around us. They were watching as we went through the fiery trail, and it was having a profound impact on their lives. When God’s work was complete, my husband was healed.
As 1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us, our faith will be tried in the fire of hardship to teach us patience and to ultimately bring glory, praise, and honor to Jesus.
-Denise Shaw-
Responding - How do I stay focused on God during trails?
Following - Trials and tribulation can work for us, not against us.
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