Our church is doing a series over Lent about the "I AM" statements of Jesus.
I love the idea so much, I'm going to blog about them! Rather than giving something up for Lent, I'm going to add to my life. I'm going to write a brief blog each week.
Ugh…I said it out loud…sort of. I'll do my very best!
So, here it goes.
Jesus says twice in the book of John, "I AM the light of the world…."
Here's one: John 9:1-12
Jesus heals a man who has been blind since birth. His disciples are curious about whether this man's blindness was caused by his own sin or by the sins his parents. Jesus assures them the reason for this man's blindness is neither his own sin or the sins of his parents. He tells them this blindness is a part of his life "so the works of God might be displayed in him."
Well, now we're getting somewhere. This flew in the face of modern day thinking at that time. The disciples asked the question for good reason: people thought if someone had an illness or a disability, surely it meant they had sinned or their parents had sinned. Jesus is saying, oh no, this is so that the work of God might be displayed!
Jesus heals this man…displaying the works of God - He is Healer.
Now I know this is not always how God displays His works. He can heal, yet that is not always His plan.
I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do know this:
God displays His work in many ways.
Make no mistake, He will display His work through the one who is seeking.
God's Presence and peace in the midst of a battle or an illness are God's work on display.
God's joy and His promises in the midst of sorrow and doubt are God's work on display.
The presence of hope during hopeless situations.
The overwhelming peace during restless times.
Comfort when we should be mourning.
Praise in times of crying out.
These are all God's work on display.
Here's the deal: God is still in the business of putting His works on display.
He wants to put His work on display in you and through you.
Enter Jesus, the Light of the World
Jesus says in verse 5: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Here's the cool part about what he says; even though Jesus died on the cross and rose again to new life - then was raised up to heaven, He is still in the world. Because of the Holy Spirit - Jesus is still in the world. Therefore, He is still the Light of the World!
Jesus wants to shine His light in your life:
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
He wants to shine that light in your life. When you choose to follow Him, He can do that. He can shine His light into your life - into your heart; illuminating the dark places, getting rid of them altogether because darkness cannot coexist with Light.
When that whole "shining in you" business is underway, Jesus can more easily shine thru you to - the world. He is, after all, the Light of the World.
When Jesus shines thru us, He uses us - our actions and our words. God's work on display.
This can be done on a personal level through things you and I do every day. From interactions we have with every person we encounter to intentional acts of service and words of encouragement.
This can also be done on a corporate level through your church.
Our church has set a goal of raising $80,000 this Lenten season. That money will go to the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo, ND in order to aid in eradicating daytime childhood hunger in our city. Once that happens, the church is committed to taking that to a state level - responding to the call that no child should go hungry in our great state: God's work on display.
In order for something to be on display, you have to be able to see it. In order to see something, it must have light.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
How will you allow Him to shine His light into your life this Lenten season?
How will you allow Him to shine His light thru your life this Lenten season?
All for this one purpose: God's work on display!
I love the idea so much, I'm going to blog about them! Rather than giving something up for Lent, I'm going to add to my life. I'm going to write a brief blog each week.
Ugh…I said it out loud…sort of. I'll do my very best!
So, here it goes.
Jesus says twice in the book of John, "I AM the light of the world…."
Here's one: John 9:1-12
Jesus heals a man who has been blind since birth. His disciples are curious about whether this man's blindness was caused by his own sin or by the sins his parents. Jesus assures them the reason for this man's blindness is neither his own sin or the sins of his parents. He tells them this blindness is a part of his life "so the works of God might be displayed in him."
Well, now we're getting somewhere. This flew in the face of modern day thinking at that time. The disciples asked the question for good reason: people thought if someone had an illness or a disability, surely it meant they had sinned or their parents had sinned. Jesus is saying, oh no, this is so that the work of God might be displayed!
Jesus heals this man…displaying the works of God - He is Healer.
Now I know this is not always how God displays His works. He can heal, yet that is not always His plan.
I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do know this:
God displays His work in many ways.
Make no mistake, He will display His work through the one who is seeking.
God's Presence and peace in the midst of a battle or an illness are God's work on display.
God's joy and His promises in the midst of sorrow and doubt are God's work on display.
The presence of hope during hopeless situations.
The overwhelming peace during restless times.
Comfort when we should be mourning.
Praise in times of crying out.
These are all God's work on display.
Here's the deal: God is still in the business of putting His works on display.
He wants to put His work on display in you and through you.
Enter Jesus, the Light of the World
Jesus says in verse 5: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Here's the cool part about what he says; even though Jesus died on the cross and rose again to new life - then was raised up to heaven, He is still in the world. Because of the Holy Spirit - Jesus is still in the world. Therefore, He is still the Light of the World!
Jesus wants to shine His light in your life:
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
He wants to shine that light in your life. When you choose to follow Him, He can do that. He can shine His light into your life - into your heart; illuminating the dark places, getting rid of them altogether because darkness cannot coexist with Light.
When that whole "shining in you" business is underway, Jesus can more easily shine thru you to - the world. He is, after all, the Light of the World.
When Jesus shines thru us, He uses us - our actions and our words. God's work on display.
This can be done on a personal level through things you and I do every day. From interactions we have with every person we encounter to intentional acts of service and words of encouragement.
This can also be done on a corporate level through your church.
Our church has set a goal of raising $80,000 this Lenten season. That money will go to the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo, ND in order to aid in eradicating daytime childhood hunger in our city. Once that happens, the church is committed to taking that to a state level - responding to the call that no child should go hungry in our great state: God's work on display.
In order for something to be on display, you have to be able to see it. In order to see something, it must have light.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
How will you allow Him to shine His light into your life this Lenten season?
How will you allow Him to shine His light thru your life this Lenten season?
All for this one purpose: God's work on display!
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