LIFE PRESENTS MANY OPPORTUNITIES

LIFE PRESENTS MANY OPPORTUNITIES

Friday, November 18, 2016

John [ESV]8:12 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 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "The light [Jesus] is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Ephesians 5:8-10 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as

children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

  Life presents many opportunities to examine and reflect on the reality of self. It’s not that I, we, are to invest every moment in examination, but there are striking moments major or minor, horrific or humorous, that present excellent periods of opportunity of agreeably walking in God’s light, or not. And as with the previous sentence, the period may be long. Or short. I share two observed events as examples to learn by.

   Horrific: A follower of Christ, young widow with above USA average number of children suffers from the help of a close relative. The relative goes to church, participates weekly in Bible study groups, and boldly quotes Scripture freely. However, their Jekyl<->Hyde personality presenting much stress for those they love.

  Humorous: An old man and companion young man arrive at the grocery store to shop for provisions. As they enter the eldest said “How about getting a 4 piece box of fried chicken?” The younger responds firmly, “Okay if you want to, but I don’t want any.” Early the next morning when the old guy walks into the kitchen he sees 2 chicken bones on the compost container lid.

  These sorts of events should never exclusively be observed, and definitely should not be damned, but do present opportunity for personal reflection lest we live as stumbling double-minded Christians. James warns us of this problem and tells of the fallout. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. … Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (KJV 1:8; 4:8)

  Again reminded of my Romans 7:4-25 problem does not however end the exercise, for next I must implement my responsibility to cleanse my hands and purify my heart.

EBB4