July 27, 2017 – John 1:9-11

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. John 1:9-11

What attracts you to light?  A child loves to chase lightning bugs on a warm summer night.  One little girl captured a jar full of lightning bugs, and brought them in the house.  She entered a dark closet and let the bugs loose to ‘light up her world’.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12.  Jesus is ‘the light that leads to life’!  What do we cling to?  Life!  Not just in this world but the eternal life Jesus promises if we follow Him.

In this world, following Jesus, gives us hope that lights up our hearts and makes living with its heartaches easier.  Jesus lights up our hearts with hope of new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us this assurance – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We are reborn when we follow Jesus and have faith just in Him. Our hearts are changed forever.   We become His children and He becomes our friend.  This is our hope.

 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7.   Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  I Corinthians 13:13.

Who are you following???

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  John 1:12-13