Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Saturday, 14 July 2018 "Once and for All" by Donabel Martin - John 1:14-16,29-34.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Saturday, 14 July 2018 "Once and for All" by Donabel Martin - John 1:14-16,29-34.
John 1:14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace., 29 The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Look! God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world! 30 This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘After me is coming someone who has come to rank above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I myself did not know who he was, but the reason I came immersing with water was so that he might be made known to Isra’el.” 32 Then Yochanan gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”(Complete Jewish Bible)

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We live in a world where many are biblically illiterate. There was once a time when people could watch commercials featuring some kind of biblical reference and everyone would know it came from the Bible. When John said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” many people knew what he was referring to but may have had a difficult time understanding what he meant: he was pointing to Jesus.
Year after year the people of God would atone for their sins by slaughtering a lamb. Those who could not afford it, would sacrifice a dove. This was a common and expected practice. So for John to declare this about Jesus broke their core belief and tradition.
Who is this that he can take away the sin of the entire world?! Only God can do that! Boldly John is declaring Jesus God. He is saying that Jesus not only forgives sins of individuals but he forgives humanity of sin—sin that keeps us from God. All that has kept you from God has been atoned for, forgiven once and for all.
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Hymn for Today: "Just as I Am" by Charlotte Elliott.

1. Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2. Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3. Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
6. Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Thought for Today: On that day they will say,

“See! This is our God!
We waited for him to save us.
This is Adonai ; we put our hope in him.
We are full of joy, so glad he saved us!” (Isaiah  25:9)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Mali will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 13 July 2018 "Shine On" by Donabel Martin - John 1:1-13.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God. (Complete Jewish Bible)

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When we think of God we often think of God as Creator. God created the heavens and the earth, the day and night. God created all that we see, hear, touch. God created us. Usually that's the end of it. Sure God is present-God did not leave us to fend for oursrlves-but as far as creating, well, Gid is done. But is He?
From the very first verse in John we get this sense of God creating in the beginning and all things were created by God and only because of God have all things come into being. But it doesn’t stop there: “in him was life.” Only life can give birth to life, only God can continue to create.
“The light shines (present tense) in darkness but the darkness has not overcome it (past tense).” The very same light of creation is still shining, it has not become dim, it has not turned a different shade, it is still light as powerful as it was from the beginning. This very light continues to overcome the darkness of history and present day, no mater how heavy the darkness is, the light of Christ shines on.

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Hymn for Today: "Send the Light" by Charles H. Gabriel.

1. There's a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave, "Send the light! Send the light"
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light!
Send the light!
Chorus: Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!
2. We have heard the Macedonian call today,"Send the light! Send the light!"
And a golden off'ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light!
Send the light!Chorus: Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!
3. Let us pray that grace may ev'rywhere abound, "Send the light! Send the light!"
And a Christ-like spirit ev'rywhere be found,
Send the light!
Send the light!Chorus: Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!
4. Let us not grow weary in the work of love, "Send the light! Send the light!"
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light!
Send the light!
[Chorus: Send the light the blessed gospel light;

Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

Thought for Today: By David. A psalm:
The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,
the world and those who live there;
for he set its foundations on the seas
and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24:1-2)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For faculy students as they prepare for full-time Christian ministry in Malawi.

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