Lord's Day Devotion - Light of the World

 

The shepherds abiding in the fields saw the glory of the Lord shining upon them.  Then theyheard the good news of great joy that Jesus was born.  They went to check it out (Luke 2:8 & 9).

The wise men from the east saw the star.  it must have been extra bright or big in order for them to observe its distinction from the usual ones.  When they saw it they,

"rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."

They too went to find the child Jesus and 

"fell down and worshiped Him" (Matthew 2:10-11).

So truly what Isaiah prophesied came to pass.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone" (Isaiah 9:2).

From the time of the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, until Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary heard from God through Gabirel, the angel about the forerunner of Jesus Christ and of the immienent birth of Jesus himself in the New Testament, there had been about 400-500 years of silence from God.

The darkness on earth was great.

Jesus came and declared, 

"I am the light of the world ..." (John 8:12).  

In John 9:5, Jesus also reassures the people,

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (ESV).

The apostle John saw and knew this light and proclaiming with his quill pen,

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

This almost sounds like a Christmas message but I assure you, the Light, Jesus, is the good news for all times.  It's like the candle-lighting service some churches use to demonstrate how the Light, Jesus, lights up the one who has accepted Him as Savior.  Then he or she passes it on.

One person has a lit candle.  They light the candle of the one next to them.  The next person then lights the candle of the person next to them and so on, until everyone's candle is lit.  This sheds so much light in a darkened room or an outdoors' nighttime service, the area lights up.

Jesus told His disciples,

"You are the light of the world" (see Matthew 5:14).

And Paul wrote,

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV).

God who is light and who in Him is no darkness, at all (see 1 John 1:5), has shone His light into our hearts.  What a gracious God we have!  Through Jesus Christ, light has come and pierced our darkness, once for all.  In appreciation we can then let our lights, or rather the light of Jesus, shine out of our hearts, lighting The Way for others.

Let's not hide our light.

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Like the words of the well sung Sunday School song encourages, sing,

"This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

Let is shine,

All the time."

Let it shine ... all the time.

As we gather together this Lord's Day to remember what Jesus has done for us on the cross, remember that He is the Original Light who lights our 'candles'.  Go forth then, after partaking of the broken bread, and drinking of the cup of wine, and light someone elses' candle - that of the one who still sits in darkness.

Jesus, Light of the world, in You there is no darkness at all!  Thank You for bringing us Your light into our dark world and life.  We give You are thanks, amen.

                                           ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on Isaiah 9:2 ESV.

Sing, Light of the World, along with The Gospel Nostalgia.

Held Together

 

Have you ever felt like you were losing it?  Things are falling apart, unsettled and you're not sure of what's next tomorrow, let along in three months' time.  So you start sing-praying "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus, is all I'm asking of You ..."

Then you come across the verse in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 17, which reads,

"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Ah-ha!  "In Him all things hold together."  Praise the Lord for this!  There could be shattered and scattered pieces of your life yet He's gonna hold them all together.  Contained, for better growth and maturity, like a plant in a pot.

The pot holds the soil, directs the roots, proudly displays the wonder of the growing, nurtured plant.  Green foliage and even blossoming blooms, depending upon the plant, sprout up and catch the appreciative eye.

It's comforting and reassuring to know our God is in control and He is holding our lives together in His hands for that personal individual tender-loving care.  We are His children, and He calls us by name; He'll hold us together (see Isaiah 43:1).

Trust Him.  Depend upon Him.  Let's seek the Lord and His strength, brothers and sisters-in-Christ, because you are not only in His hands but in His pot - so to speak - and He's holding us together.

Father God, we call confidently upon You in the name of Jesus Christ because we are called by Your name.  We are Your children and belong to you (see John 1:12).

We praise You and thank You for all your tender loving care.  In the midst of our lives of turmoil and/or uncertainty we can rest assured You are with us, holding us, holding us together so we can continue to move through and on, each day, day after day, giving us hope until You come for us.

We do not always know or understand the why's and wherefore's of the plans You have for us in our lives but do help us to grow, bloom and prosper spiritually and holistically wherever we are planted by you.  Help us to display Your glory as we mature in Christ through and despite it all.  Thank You for keeping us together.

In Jesus' name we give You our heart-felt thanks.  Amen.

                                                    ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on Colossians 1:17 ESV and loosely on YouVersion Reading Plan - Playing In the Dirt - DaySpring.

Sing, Day By Day, along with Reawaken Hymns, and One Day At A Time, along with the Gaither Music Singer Lynda Randle.

Heritage of the LORD's Servants

 

The verse of the day to day (8/4/25) from You Version is Isaiah 54:17 (ESV).

"No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.  This is the heritabge og the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declared the LORD."

At first glance it appears that all will be well if you are a servant of the LORD.  Anything that comes against such a servant is assured of it.  It's their heritage after all and to be expected.

Such was the case of a soldier who was deployed during WWII.  He came to my grandfather and asked for a Bible verse to take with him in his mind and heart.  This was one of them on the occasion.  "...No weapon formed against thee shall prosper".  Grandpa would have gotten this verse from the KJV.

Certainly there were weapons a plenty aimed at the soldier at that time.

Sure enough, although that soldier saw action, he was physically unharmed.  So is this every one's case?  Can we make a blanket statement with this verse that all will get away unharmed?

I have conflicting thinking here.  I ask, "What about the missionary father and his two sons who got burned alive in their van in India in 1999?"  They had been doing God's work among lepers.

What about followers of Jesus Christ in countries like North Korea or Myanmar where they are severely persecuted for their faith in Jesus?  They do not get away unharmed.

Of course, our God is sovereign, He knows the end from the beginning but it does make one wonder.  There are a few incidents in the Bible we can use as examples where the person had to go through the trial and suffering but then good did come out of it.

God's thoughts are not our thoughts and He knows and understands things our finite human minds cannot comprehend.  However, He does give us some examples.

Take the life of Joseph in Genesis, for example.  His own brothers sold him.  Potiphar bought him as his slave and he did do well until Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, then claimed sexual harassment, landing Joseph in prison for years on end.  He was tucked away, seemingly forgotten; out of sight, out of mind.

But God hadn't forgotten about him.  Later Joseph became the ruler, second only to Pharoah, of Egypt.  Joseph had been vindicated and he was succeeding.  Potiphar's wife's tongue had been refuted, so to speak.

The good that came about was wisdom from God about storing up food - lots of it - during those seven years of abundant harvests.  In the following seven years of famine and potential world starvation, there was food for the hungry not only in the nation of Egypt but for all surrounding peoples!

Joseph had become a 'savior' of sorts in his time.  He was even reconciled with his half brothers and got to see his aged father again and his full brother Benjamin.  Sounds like a happily-ever-after story.  Praise the Lord, it's a true story of the heritage of one of the LORD's faithful servants.

Daniel is another good example.  The other officials were jealous of Daniel.  They tricked King Darius in regards to Daniel's God.  King Darius declared that all could only pray to him but Daniel continued, as was his wont, praying to the one true God.  Punishment for this was to be thrown into the lion's den.  "Game over," thought everyone.  Although I feel King Darius, in the back of his mind, hoped Daniel's God could 'save' him.  He did lose to a night of worry and lack of sleep. 

Come morning, King Darius rushed to the lion's den and found Daniel completely unscathed (see Daniel 6).  Daniel told the King, that God 

"found [me] blameless before Him..." (Daniel 6:22). 

 The King then decreed,

"...in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring forever ..." (Daniel 6:26).

Makes you wanna sing,

"My God is so big,

so strong and so mighty,

There's nothing my God cannot do!"

If you skip over to the New Testament and visit the apostle Paul, you'll see he too was a faithful servant of the Lord who declared the gospel and taught the people how to live the Christian life.  You only need to read the book of Acts and also all Paul's letters to the various assemblies of God's people and those he wrote to individuals such as Timothy and Titus and Philemon to see how effectual he was despite his hardships.

You'll see all the trials and troubles he experienced.  He even ended up in prison a few times.  It really did seem like weapons and words had been formed against him whether from outsiders or false teachers within the churches. 

Throughout the many years of Paul's ministy, despite the hardships, so many had come to Christ and were being built up in their most holy faith.  Paul didn't waste a minute of it, it seems.  In the end, he was in prison until the time of his execution.  He did write at least four known epistles whilst in  prison (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon).  

Much good did come from his life.  People meant to harm Paul but God did see to it that Paul's life was 'vindicated' or as the KJV puts it, Paul's

 "righteousness is of Me," saith the LORD" (Isaiah 54:17 KJV).

Paul left us an incredible heritage through our LORD's vindication!  The Lord passed it to us, His servants.  May we too be found just as faithful even with 'weapons' aimed at us.

Jesus is likely the first one to have come to mind though of whom God the Heavenly Father vindicated and found righteous.  Upon Jesus' baptism, God spoke from heaven declaring in Luke 3:21-22 ESV,

"You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased."

Jesus had to go through so much for us in life, His arrest and betrayal, His crucifixion!  None of which was His fault, although false accusations were pinned upon Him.  He was made sin for us that through Him we could have redemption (see 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Ephesians 1:7-10).  He was the perfect, sinless one!  Yet weapons and words definitely appeared and harmed Him.  He was not unscathed. 

How could this be!  It's so unfair!

Yet this Ultimate Servant of God, went the whole measure and an extra, extra mile, for my salvation and yours too!  How does this make you feel?!  He has been and is vindicated each and every time someone believes in Him as Lord and Savior of their lives!

Hallelujah, what a Savior that He died for me!  What a Savior that He resurrected for me!  In Him we have forgiveness of our sins and He has made us righteous in His sight.  In Him we have everlasting life.  In Him we have relationship with Him and He'll never let us go!  In and through Him we have His Holy Spirit's indwelling, convicting us, leading and guiding for life.  Isn't this incredible!  

Praise the Lord.

Many of you may know of a current situation where a friend is going through some deep trial.  They are exemplary servants of God yet being "tortured" and falsely accused even to the point of legal proceedings.  

Why Lord?  How Lord!?  Will vindicattion come this side of Heaven?  What good can come from what I/they am/are experiencing?  Your people who are called by Christ's name (Christians) want to know.

However Father, we humbly bow to You, knowing You do work things for our good.  I think of that burned missionary's wife.  How is she doing, Lord?  Be with her and give her an extra sense of Your presence today, even so many years on.  Let her know that You are there for her and You are vindicating her husbands' and sons' deaths.  Bring many to Christ through all this and the trials and tribulations of Your people today.  I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

                                                     ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on Isaiah 54:17 (ESV and KJV).

Sing, Farther Along, along with West Creek Harmony.

Follow the Son

 "Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually"                                                                  1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV.

When we seek the LORD and His presence, we find strength; His strength, that is.  But we need to 'seek' Him for the time spent with Him.  It is a choice and 'seeking' shows definite sincerity.

I love the context of this verse.  David had just placed the ark of God in a tent, made burnt offerings to the LORD and had Asaph and singers sing thanksgiving using singer/song-writer David's song of thanks.

The ark of the LORD was where His presence resided among the people of Israel.  David had sought the LORD's strength and presence.  Having brought this presence closer, he could be glad, rejoice and sing praise for all the LORD's "wondrous works".

Then he told his people to seek the LORD and His presence for strength - continually.  David was one who had to indeed do this.  If you know his story you will instantly understand he does not say these things superficially.

We do well to understand where the source or rather, from Whom, our source of strength is.  Being in our Lord's presence and seeking time with Him and leaning on His strength is what our thirsty souls need.

It's like plants that lift their faces up to the sun.  Plants often "follow the sun" and grow in the direction of the sun.  Besides water, they need the sun for nourishment and growth.

Similarly, we need to "follow the Son" - Jesus.  He is our souls' source of nourishment and growth in Him.  Being in His presence, seeking His strength, daily is how we can grow well and healthily.

  Do you really want this?

David went all out to seek this.  He penned, 

"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 

                                   1 Chronicles 16:10 ESV.

Let's turn our faces up to the Son Jesus.  Seek Him continually.  Follow Him.  Soak in His presence and lean on His strength.  Sing praise and rejoice.

Lord Jesus, all thanks, glory and honor be to Your name.  Your presence is with me and I seek to be with you continually, to know You and Your heart, to choose Your strength.  I cannot live without You.  Thank You, Jesus.

                                                     ~ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on 1 Chronicles 16:11; Colossians 2:6 ESV and loosely on Playing in the Dirt YouVersion Plan from DaySpring.

Sing, In His Presence, along with Sandi Patty.

Spring of Water

"Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14 ESV).

Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman while He rested at the well.  The woman made a daily trek to the well off peak hours but Jesus was there because He had an appointment with her.  Little did she know it.

The water she dipped out of that well kept her coming back because she got thirsty again.  Jesus used this example to invite her to drink of the water He could supply that would be an everflowing supply for life.  She'd never be thirsty again and the water Jesus could give her would be a "spring of water welling up."  The emptiness within her could, at last, be filled and satisfied.

"Welling up" implies to me, full and overflowing, abundant, and it just keeps coming  and coming.  The water Jesus gives is living water and comes with an unlimited supply.

Those of us with plants know we make our daily rounds to give them a drink.  The best though is when it rains.  We can let God water them.  There's a difference.  It is obvious in the plants' response.  Water from the tap vs God's water from the sky.  The 'heavenly' water makes the plants sit up, take notice and grow better.  I kid you not!

Truly the water Jesus gives is the best.  When we read the Word of God to refresh our souls and learn of Him we grow a whole lot better in response.  God's word versus the 101 other things we may imbibe like the daily news, which can depress us or make us agitated and angry; movies of all kinds or certain computer video games that steal our time and mental capacity.

What are we followers of Jesus Christ watering our souls with?  What are we thirsty for?  Let's drink the water Jesus gives that can become "a spring of water welling up to eternal life".  There's quality and quantity in this living water.

                                                 ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on John 4:12-14.

Sing, Living Waters, along with the Getty's.

 

Good Book - Counseling Friends in Need - By Harold J. Sala - Review by ERChin

 Some of you may have been following my commentary on the individual chapters of this book.  This is an overall general review.  Know that if you are that layman counselor-friend, what Harold J. Sala has to say will be very helpful.  This is my opinion.

Sala covers issues, ways and means of how to help that friend in need who needs a listening empathetic ear.  Also that someone who is proactive to actually do more than just listen but to enable that friend in need to begin and continue the process towards overcoming their troubles and problems.

One of Sala's major points is to use the Bible in whatever counseling help you give in treating the whole person.  For example, see the titles of some of his chapters.  They are:  Using the Bible to Counsel Relationship Problems; Emotional Problems such as Uncontrollable Anger, Irrational Fears, Pervasive Worry, Emotional Depression; and Using the Bible to Counsel Addictive Behavior such as Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse and Sexual Addiction, which include Obsessive Sexual Relations, Promiscuity, Infidelity in Marriage and more.  Using the Bible entails reading it and memorizing key verses so the Holy Spirit can can bring that guidance needed to help bring about necessary changes towards effective overcoming victory in Christ.

I feel that the author Sala has each chapter laid out well and explains everything in 'easy' understandable layman's terms.  At each chapter ending he has a 'homework page' (my term) where he asks "questions for thought and discussion".  I found these very useful to help me summarize and solidify the message I felt he wanted the reader to learn in that particular chapter and be able to make use of, for ones own self first, and then in helping that friend who comes to you sincerely desperate for help.

I found this book very beneficial and helpful and believe it could be of good use to the serious readers who wish to be of effective help to their friends in need.  I do recommend this book to you.  By God's grace we can be helped personally, and be a help to others in their struggles in life and living to please the Lord until He comes.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful..."  1 Thessalonians 5:23 & 24a.

Father, You are so great!  Your power is limitless and You have given us Your HolySpirit empowerment to live that Christian life You desire of us; to be holy as You are holy.  We are so thankful for this help and the help of friends who help us in our life's problems, struggles and temptations. May we be overcomers who reflect You and Your person.  I ask in Jesus' name, amen.

                                                  ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

For further reading you can check out some of my links below which are based on this book.

Less Boom - Counsel Chap 1

The Depression Emotion - (Counseling Chap 8)

Staying Connected With God (Counseling Chapter 10)

 "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Sounds like 24/7 praying.  Certainly, it's an ongoing connection with the Lord.

This verse is sandwiched between 

"Rejoice always" 

and 

"give thanks in all circumstances," 

which is not conditional to whether the situation is a good or bad one.  Is it really possible to keep this up all day and night long?

To me, the continual praying is a way of staying connected to God, my Heavenly Father.  It's important to know my human limitations and that God has no limitations.  What's more, we can develop a wonderful relationship with Him.  His ears are always open to us.

So generally, we demonstrate our dependance upon Him and acknowledge our need for His intervention in our lives and the lives of our family, friends and all we meet.  That is, whether they realize it or not.

Our daily lives get busy and we get distracted and forgetful.  A way to remind oneself to "pray without ceasing" to keep the daily connection is to set your phone or clock alarm for various times throughout the day.  At those times, assign various issues, loved ones, or that friend in need to pray about and for them.  Or the in-the-moment need.

In-between times, whatever comes to mind, God wants to hear about too.  As you silently or verbally talk aloud to the Lord, you will develop that continual connection to Him.  You've all seen or are even 'one of those' people constantly on their phones, keeping their phones by their side, giggling away in their own private comedy show, as they read text messages from their contact's list.  This is the type of 'connection' we can have with our Heavenly Father.  It can be "without ceasing".

Naturally then, when counseling a friend in need, it is important to cover all stages of recovery and overcoming progress, with prayer.  Staying connected with the Lord for insight, wisdom, guidance and Holy Spirit empowering is essential.  We cannot 'do it' alone!

Rejoicing and giving thanks along the journey is part of this "continuous attitude of prayer" 

Father God, in all we do, in all we say, we do want to keep our connection with You, without ceasing.  Thank You for always being there for us.  We definitely need Your help and intervention 24/7.  At this time my friend _________ especially needs Your help to overcome and journey through their troubles and struggles with _________.  May Your Holy Spirit and the reading of Your word lead, guide, convict and bring us through.  Thank You for walking with him/her through their valley.  Bless all his/her efforts.  We do so depend upon You and Your enduring faithfulness.   We ask all this in Jesus' name, amen.

                                              ~ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV and Counseling Friends In Need by Harold J. Sala.  Chapter 10 - Successful Counseling - (OMF literature).

Sing, My God is All I Need, along with City Alight.  (Find the lyrics and read through them prayerfully before singing along.)

Memorzie:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.