This week’s devotions are based upon Sunday's message from John 1:1-14
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’ (John 1:1-4)
This section is John is referring back to the creation account in Genesis 1. Before anything was created, God was! God is self-existent and eternal. Nothing and no one created God. He has life in Himself. He is the cause of all that exists. God created everything. Through Jesus ‘all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.’
PHYSICAL LIFE IS A LIGHT ON GOD
We are told that ‘life was the light of all mankind’. What does this mean?
The miracle of life that we see throughout this world, points to our creator God. Every tree, bird, human being and every cell proclaim the glory of God. The Psalmist writes,
‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.’ (Psalms 19:1-4)
However, our sinful nature makes us argue against this great evidence for God.
SPIRITUAL LIFE IS A LIGHT GOD
Secondly, this reference to ‘life’ in John 1:1-4, is also referring to the new spiritual life that Jesus gives to us. This new life by the Spirit overcomes our sinful blindness and enables us to ‘see’ the truth of Jesus. Paul writes of this new creation miracle,
‘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)
The life in our world is to inspire us to worship the creator and life-giver. Creation all around us is also a reminder of the miracle of new life that Jesus has worked in everyone who believes.
OVER TO YOU - PRAY AND WORSHIP OUT OF THE BIBLE
I’ve made a few comments. However, it’s more important that you engage with the text yourself. Take a moment to pray and listen to God’s voice out of today’s text.
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’ (John 1:1-4)
I find it helpful to use the following questions which are based upon The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13).
1. Praise - What does this text teach me about God? What can I praise Him for?
2. Petitions - What does this teach me about His will for me and others? What could I pray for from this text? This is a good time to pray for our non-believing. friends. It’s good to ask, Is the Holy Spirit leading me in any specific response?
3. Peace-making - Is the Holy Spirit convicting me of sin for which I need forgiveness? Do I need to forgive others?
4. Protection - Ask for God’s protection generally and for any specific areas of vulnerability. Am I believing lies regarding the truths in this text?
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
There are no Community Group meetings until January.