Good
Morning All,
1
John 2:9; “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in
darkness. “
Imagine
for a moment that you are taking a friend to a sporting contest. It can be between two local high schools or
two colleges or your favorite pro sport teams.
You cheer for team “A”. The
friend that you brought along, and paid for the ticket in, gave a ride to and
bought dinner for, agrees to cheer for your team as well. The only thing is that he is wearing a team
jersey from the opposing team “B”. Every
time team “B” does something good he stands up and cheers for them. Every time team “A” does something good, he
just sits there. When you ask him,
“Whose side are you on?” and he replies with, “yours”; do you believe him?
Most people would agree that you cannot
tell me you are for team “A” if you cheer for team “B”. You have to cheer for one team or another. You cannot claim to be in the light (a
follower of Jesus) and then hate your brother and keep living in the dark
(sinful nature).
In this, his first epistle, the Apostle
John makes it clear that when it comes to faith, you are either in or out. You are either in the light or in the
darkness. You either confess that Jesus
is your Lord or you confess that he isn’t and something or someone (usually me)
is lord of our life. For many that is
difficult. Many want to have it two or
more ways at the same time. Some want a
spouse but do not want to remain faithful to that spouse. Many want to live their life in total freedom
with no sense of responsibility for their actions.
Jesus loves us with a special
self-sacrificial love. It is a love
which only gives and never expects something back in some form of a trade. We all know people like that. “I’ll love you if you love me first.” This is not self-sacrificial love but of
self-serving selfish love. Selfish love
is the kind of love the world knows.
Your concern is for, “what is in it for me?” Jesus calls us to the light of his grace, to
the light of reconciliation, in order that we might love others as Christ loves
us. Remember what Jesus endured for you
on Mt. Calvary, remember what he gave up (heavenly glory) for you, remember
what he does now for you (intercedes with the Father for you). All this and more he does for you even,
actually especially, when you do not show God’s love to others and you deserve
punishment. Jesus takes that punishment
for you.
The beauty of living in the light is that
you can see where you are going. We know
where we are going; we are going to heaven to live with our heavenly Father,
with our brother Jesus, with our comforter the Holy Spirit and all the saints
who died in faith and went before us.
The gift of the light to see the truth, to live in harmony with each
other, to comfort and console, to protect and help defend each other from the
attacks of the devil. Live in the light
of Christ’s righteousness and the hope of our salvation.
Dear Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. Shine into our hearts with your truth and the
saving warmth of your grace. Guard us
this day from our foe the devil and keep us from the darkness. Give us the strength and courage to share
your amazing gift of salvation with those whom we meet. In Your precious name we pray, amen.
God’s
peace,
Pastor
Bret
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