Posts Tagged ‘ Bible ’
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “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, ESV
Our world is shadowed in the darkness of sin and rebellion, but our Light and Lord has come to us.
Turn to Jesus, our source of life.
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
The pain those sins have caused have made this world and much of our lives dark and burdensome.
We have hurt ourselves and each other as we have ignored and run from God.
We have caused so much pain and grief to ourselves and each other as we acted selfishly and without regard for others.
We can prepare ourselves by beginning to look at our own wickedness and need for forgiveness.
We can prepare ourselves by seeking our Creator and Savior who is capable of removing our burdens and sins.
May we seek the Lord who offers His comfort, preparing ourselves by seeking His truth.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV
We seek God because He has giving us the gift of grace through faith, saving us from ourselves.
May we share the news of this gift with others!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1 Peter 1:3, ESV
The Father draws us to the Son. By His grace, we seek Him and find everlasting hope.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope
Psalm 130:5, ESV
As we seek God, He grants us peace and we find hope in His promises, including His immenent return.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Matthew 6:3, ESV
Seeking God will lead us to want to help others the same way Christ helped us, not so much to bring attention to ourselves but to glorify God, to bring others to faith and salvation.
The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 9:13, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
We do horrible things to each other and against God.
We don’t like to believe that God punishes people, either. However, the Old Testament shows how often Israel disobeyed God, and God allowed and even sent disasters and armies to correct them and draw them back to Himself.
But we like to think we know better, so we refuse to go to Him or even blame Him for everything wrong in this life.
How could He allow such bad things to happen? How could a good God let evil happen to good people?
But He has told us that none of us are truly good, that we don’t seek our Maker.
He sends and allows because He has given us the choice to ignore, hate, and refuse Him.
Yes, God sends things that hurt but it to draw us in, and He also sends Himself to hold us.
May we seek the Lord who draws us in.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Isaiah 9:4, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
There are many times in this world that we burden and oppress each other.
We either attempt to force our own will on others, add our will (rules) to God’s will, or have the will of others forced on us.
We dare to put ourselves in God’s place or blame Him for the sin of others.
We willingly choose our own path, carrying the burden of our sin, thinking we are good in our own right.
The ways of this world drag us down, and we complain and try to fix things ourselves … or accept that we are nothing and hold onto this view.
And many times we lash out at each other, seeking comfort, even if through burdening others.
And if we blame God, we also say His ways must be more burdensome, not wanting to acknowledge that we have burdened ourselves.
We may still struggle with the problems of this world, but Jesus has promised that we will have troubles. He has given us His yoke of loving others.
May we seek to lead our world to theOne who ends sin’s oppression.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1, ESV
As we seek God, He gives us more faith and more reasons for faith. We may not see all of His promises in this life, but He has shown Himself faithful.
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.“
Isaiah 40:3, ESV
We live in a wilderness of sin and darkness in this world.
Let us make every effort to remove obstacles to the gospel in our own lives and as we share the gospel with others.
May we seek the peace and light of God.
a simple man of God 