Life is hard. Sometimes very hard.

Jesus, thankfully, tells us that we can have His wisdom and support and care when life is hard.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Jesus is light. In one sense he is like a flashlight in a dark room.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5

Do we believe this? We take aspirin because we believe it relieves pain. Believing in God can be tough, especially when life is not going our way. Trust God.

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. John 12:46

Trust God even when you don’t feel like it. Trust Him because we know deep down not to trust Him make hard situations harder.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

 

Online Bibles

This is strong, but really good

More quotes

There’s a theme in John 1 that might be easy to miss.

It starts in the first sentence. The author, John the Apostle, being led by the Spirit, wants to tell us about something very important. Jesus.

This theme is continued by John the Baptist, who we are told about by John the Apostle (vs. 6-8, & 15). John is revealed as someone who was sent to tell people about Jesus.

The theme is continued twice more when John the Baptist declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (vs. 29 & 36). John wants to tell people who Jesus is.

And the theme is continued in the two stories about Jesus calling disciples (vs. 35-42 & 43-51). In the two stories John is making Jesus known.

Let it stir your heart that by reading the chapter we are getting to know Jesus. This is no small thing. It is a God thing. God is always good and very intentional. It’s all part of His plan to reveal Himself to us so that our faith and knowledge in Him grows and is strengthened.

 

Online Bibles

A good article about gratitude

More quotes

Why does John and other Bible authors make so much of Jesus? Why?

If God is wise, and if He wants the best for us, and if He is proactive, then there is nothing higher or better for Him to actively point to than Jesus.

He could point us to Himself. But God, being wise, sent Jesus to show us show us what He, Himself is like.

Jesus is God in the flesh. John 1:14

 

Online Bibles

Something interesting, something unexpected about Abraham Lincoln

More quotes

What makes John 1 so good?

The first 18 verses, and how they magnify Jesus with such profound sentences.

John the Baptist pointing to Jesus, and pointing away from himself.

John the Baptist twice telling people that Jesus is the Lamb of God, and all that that truth means.

Disciples seeking Jesus, and giving Simon the name Peter.

Jesus seeking disciples, and drawing them to Himself.

Nathaniel being leery of Jesus, and Philip saying, “Come and see!”

Jesus telling Nathaniel He saw him under the fig tree, and Nathaniel believing in Jesus.

Once again, read the chapter often, read is slowly, let it soak in. You won’t regret it. 

 

Online Bibles

This makes sense, though difficult

More quotes

We are prone to lie. It’s very human to be slightly or significantly deceitful. It is one of the truest marks of our sin nature.

Colossians 3:9 is pretty clear, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”

Proverbs 30:7 says it in a more personal way.

“Two things I ask of you;

deny them not to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me,

lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the LORD?”

or lest I be poor and steal

and profane the name of my God.”

 

He is asking God to remove the sin of lying from him.

That is worthy and healthy prayer.

 

 

Online Bibles

A short description on what the church is

More quotes

We men are sexual beings. And it is a difficult path to walk.

Paul is helpful in a Colossians 3.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (3:5-6)

Put to death anything lustful, immoral, evil desires, impure. Put. It. To. Death.

We all know the why Paul is so severe and unflinching. Sexual sin is so destructive.

A man will walk with God to the degree he is not involved in any form of sexual sin. Sin dulls discipleship. 

Let that sink in.

 

Online Bibles

Another valid criticism of social media

More quotes

We’re being renewed. God is at work renewing us.

Paul says our old self is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Colossians 3:10

This is a significant promise. It’s more than we grasp.

It’s one of those promises we just have to trust.

Today God is at work in each of us. We may not see it. We may doubt it.

But let us trust God’s word. Let us trust Him. And let us be grateful. For we all need God’s help in maturing and doing the right thing.

Today, think about it some. Our conversion includes the promise that what God began in us He will complete! Philippians 1:6

 

Online Bibles

This is timely and much needed

More quotes

You have probably noticed that at the end of Colossians 3 Paul says two things to men and one thing to women. To the men he addresses us as both husbands and fathers. To the women he only addresses them as wives.

And he writes warning to us. Don’t be harsh. And don’t provoke.

Why do we get double treatment and two warnings?

Most likely because we need it. Masculinity can easily cross a line, and we can do it pretty quickly and pretty consistently.

Let’s just leave it at that. Let it sink in. By the grace of God Paul warns us. Let the warning stand. Take it in. Heed it.

Husbands, love your wives.

 

 

Online Bibles

This is very good

More quotes

In the middle of Colossians 3 are these three words, “Christ is all.” (verse 11)

In other words, Christ is everything. Jesus is the most important thing. He is the greatest thing ever and forever.

But we don’t always see it this way. We can be passive to this. In our hearts and minds, Jesus can loose His wonder and glory and power and might and love and patience. Jesus can become distant.

But those three words stand. He is all. He is the greatest. He is the most important thing, even when don’t see it or feel it or think about it.

What to do??

Dive headlong into Scripture! Dive deeply and for extended periods of time. Pray as you go. Read one of the gospels, not looking for commands and warnings, but looking for the greatness and goodness and glory of what Jesus does and says.

 

Online Bibles

This is very insightful

More quotes