His Name Was John

John 1:1-13

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

 ⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

 ¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Verses 6-9 don't really seem to fit in this passage. The author (John) begins talking about Jesus, takes a detuour to talk about John (the Baptist), and then proceeds to continue talking about Jesus.

The correlation is that God sent John to be a witness for Christ, just as He as sent each believer. Go ahead, put your name in place of John's.

Lately the Lord has really increased my desire to be more like Him, to concentrate on living my life as a testimony for His grace. This is not about salvation. I am already by saved by grace. Christ came to save me and give me a new life.

 Romans 6:1-4

 ¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

 

This about how He is making me more like Him. This is about living my life as a light. This is about living out my salvation with thanksgiving isn't of using grace as an excuse to continue conforming to this word. How can I be a light, if there's nothing different about me. How can I reflect Christ, if I don't act like Him.

 

P.S. The name John is hebrew for "God is merciful".

120905

The title is a nod to how the date is entered in our database at work. It's also the format that I use when I want to put the date in the title of a document or file.

At lunch today, a few of the teachers and myself got to talking about sin, specifically homosexuality. Can those who indulge in homosexuality really be Christians when God considers it to be a sin? Afterall, aren't all who believe in Christ saved by grace? Don't we all sin everyday in one way or another, both dilberately and accidentally? When it comes down to it, another's salvation is not my decision. I can't judge, but I shouldn't encourage sin either. The only person I can really convict is myself. I'm responsible for how I respond to the Holy Spirit's promptings, for living out my own salvation. I can't judge someone else's journey with Christ. I will not be judged for another's sin, but I will be judged for how I respond to it whether with love or hate. Utlimately, all I can do is follow Him wherever He leads me.

John 21:20-22

 ²⁰Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") ²¹When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

 ²²Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

John 15:5, 8

Generosity

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

This is David speaking to God about the Isrealites opportunity to build the temple. He is thanking God for so generously allowing him to have a part in this. I feel very much the same way.  I am able to be so generous because the Lord has so generously blessed me. Who am I that I should have even the smallest part in His plan? Praise be to God!