John 3

Let me just start off by noting that there is a whole lot going on in this chapter. From the beginning you have Nicodemus, a Pharisee, seeking Jesus out himself. Now Pharisees were the ruling council back then and rather jealous of Jesus since he challenged their views and really undermined their authority. So Nicodemus seeking out Jesus is quite a huge thing. And after speaking to Jesus, Nicodemus later became convinced Jesus was the Messiah and actually would speak up on His behalf. This is also where you get the verse everyone knows, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that any who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Now it would be easy to say that this is the key verse in this chapter, Well, it really is, but I would like to dig a little deeper into this one. Jesus goes on to talk about those who refuse to believe in him, or just reject Him outright, and the reasons why they do this. And it really does shed some light into why this happens.

Key Verse (for me anyway): Jesus says, Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hated the light because they want to sin in the darkness.They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. A lot of people don’t want God’s light shining on their lives for what it may reveal. And that they do not want to be changed. These same people are threatened by our desire to do what is right by God, since it just may expose the darkness in their own lives.

My prayer: Lord, I strive everyday to do what is right, to be more Christlike in my actions and words, and my daily life. I pray that I can be a better example, rather Living Proof ,to those I come into contact with on a daily basis and that by witnessing my example they might come to seek You out much like Nicodemus did. And in so doing come to know you, and believe in you.

John 2

Key verse: All right, Jesus replied, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

My Reflections: Now the Jewish leaders, completely freaked out thinking He was talking about their Temple, which had been around for about 500 years, and had taken many years just to build. But he was really talking about Himself . This is Jesus basically telling everyone what was going to happen and what He was going to do. He was describing His death and resurrection! Now later on, after His resurrection, His disciples would remember these words and those words would become the greatest proof that Christ was God.

My Prayer: Lord, as I read through John, I see people who are prejudiced against you, approach you with disbelief, but as soon as they see your glory, and your truth, they are forever changed! I pray that, as leaders, we can guide more people to come to see your glory just like these people here did, and in turn be forever changed.

Absence

I must say this has been an extremely busy month for me. I have missed out on several Fridays this month and it doesn’t look to get any better for a couple more weeks. It just seems that everything that needs to get done apparently needs to get done on a Friday night!

The weekend of Jan. 13th, that was the weekend I went through my E.M.T. refresher course so that I can get recertified as an E.M.T. (My certification expired Jan. 1st, I kinda had to get it done.) So I thought, great, one Friday, not the end of the world, but, still, I do miss LP when I am not there no matter what I am doing. I can’t wait to be there next Friday! ummmm…. yeah, apparently that wasn’t going to happen either.

I get a call that following Monday that there was to be an officers meeting on , of course, Friday night! Ok, make that 2 weeks in a row. Not the end of the world again, I will just be back next Friday. (Man do I miss LP, and all the people!)

Sigh, two days later I get an e-mail, apparently we are trying out a new bass player for the CT Christian Academy Sweetheart banquet and private auction. Guess which day….FRIDAY!!!!! UGHHHH, am I ever going to able to get back to LP again?!?!?! Ok, we’ll get this tryout done and then I can go back to Friday night LP. Right?

WRONG!!!!!!

Now we are going to have practices the next TWO Fridays until the banquet. I know I miss a lot when I miss one Friday night, but now I will be missing 6! I will be at LP however on the First Sunday of the month, and then, following the Feb. 9th banquet, from there on out. I look forward to it!

John 1

Read: John 1

Key Verse: Nazareth! exclaimed Nathanael. Can anything good come from there?

Just come see for yourself. Philip said
Mr Reflections: When Nathanael first heard Jesus was from Nazareth, he responded with a very derisive question. He obviously had some sort of issue about anyone coming from Nazareth, but when Philip told him to come and see he did. And when he did, he met Jesus and Jesus said to him that He could see Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip found him. And right there he got over his obvious prejudice and became a disciple. WOW!

My prayer: Lord, I know there are a people like Nathanael who have prejudices against anything to do with You. I pray that you use me and let me be like Philip to just lead people to You so that they can come to know You. Just get them to “come and see”.