Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Carrying on from yesterday’s devotional, I wanted to think a little more about our ministry of being witnesses to the light.
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‘Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)
Yesterday, as we reflected on John 1:1-5, we saw that only Jesus can impart spiritual life through which they see the light of Jesus. This teaching can be both releasing and perplexing. It’s releasing to know that Jesus can open people’s eyes to the gospel; however, it can be perplexing in the sense of understanding our role and whether we can actually help anyone in which Jesus is not choosing to work.
i. Only God can give spiritual life
Firstly, regardless of our concerns, is it never-the-less true that only Jesus can give spiritual life and light - salvation - to people? Today’s text makes it clear that, as in physical creation, only God can impart spiritual re-creation. We are told that, ‘God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’
ii. We are witnesses to the Light - witnesses to Jesus
Secondly, we have a role to play. Yesterday, in John 1:1-5, saw John described:
‘He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.’ (John 1:8-9)
Likewise, today’s text says a lot about the role that we are to play in helping people to come to Jesus. We are told, for example, to ‘not lose heart’ and ‘not use deception, nor … distort the word of God’ and ‘[set] forth the truth plainly’ and ‘preach… not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ - We are given the manner and matter of our witnessing.
Today’s text can be seen as having two contradicting ideas: how is it that I can help people come to salvation whilst it’s only God who can save! However, this text does, unashamedly, contain both ideas and so must we! We are to minister in the ways outlined and we are to believe that only God can give light to blind eyes!
The New Testament approach to evangelism is humility and activity; we humbly accept that sin means that all are blinded from seeing Christ and their need of Him; only the life and light-giving ministry of the Spirit can cause people to see and receive Jesus. Secondly, we are to be active as witnesses to the light. God works through us in the process and spiritual rebirth.
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday, Inspired from Psalm 76:4, reflected on what it means for God to be ‘radiant light’. The Bible often uses light to speak of the appearance and ways of God; God’s light draws our attention to His holy and good nature, and, secondly, light speaks of His good ways that cast darkness out of our lives. Our message can be summarised as: God’s light restores worship and holiness.
Please read Psalm 76:4
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What would you say are the main teaching points of this short section of Psalm 76?
Why does God sometimes show His light (His glory) in a visible form? (See Luke 9:28-31 for example)
What does God’s light and glory teach us about His nature?
What does God’s light and glory teach us about His will for us?
What does 1 John 1:5-6 teach about the fruit that must attend anyone’s profession of faith?
Prayer - It might be good to pray for one another regarding anything that has come out of this challenging study.
SIV - Why is the pursuit of worship and holiness vital for us to be a light to this world?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
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