“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7
These verses from 1 John and the words from the closing hymn that I chose truly make a really good statement about who we are and Who we follow. This world in general and our personal world are filled with all kinds of flaming arrows headed our way. If we claim to have fellowship with Jesus the Light of this world but are still walking to darkness consider what the lost still living in darkness think about your savior. It appears that many living in Haiti will receive some of the torrents of rain and wind from Hurricane Irma today and tomorrow and we pray that our Christian brothers and sisters will bring a bright Light of Hope to those hurting and hopeless when nothing is left of their homes and families. Jesus is always there with a comforting touch and sometimes a Hand to lead us to our Heavenly Home. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness’ that were written by Ludwig von Zinzendorf in 1739.
“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress; midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head. Bold shall I stand in that great Day, for who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully through these absolved I am from sin and fear, from guilt and shame. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father's bosom came, Who died for me, e'en me t'atone, now for my Lord and God I own. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood, which at the mercy-seat of God forever doth for sinners plead, for me, e'en for my soul, was shed. Lord, I believe were sinners more than sands upon the ocean shore, Thou hast for all a ransom paid, for all a full atonement made. When from the dust of death I rise to claim my mansion in the skies, e'en then, this shall be all my plea: Jesus hath lived and died for me. Jesus, be endless praise to Thee, Whose boundless mercy hath for me, for me, and all Thy hands have made, an everlasting ransom paid.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay