Thought for 2 December

John 1:1-5

In the beginning the Word already existed.  He was with God, and he was God. 

He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 

Yesterday was the first Sunday of advent, always a special Sunday when we begin to set our eyes on Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord and Saviour.  This world in which we live is ever changing, ever evolving.  Day-to-day life is different today than it was in all those previous Decembers we have lived through.  We still have blessings to count, regrets to regret and fears to face.  But the one thing that never changes is the story of that first Christmas and the wonderful promise that it brings.

The story is much more than the baby in the manger.  In these first few verses from the book of John, we learn that Jesus had already existed from the very beginning of time.  Later on, in John 8:58, while he was teaching in a temple, Jesus tells those present that ‘the truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born’.  When they heard him make this statement, their immediate inclination was to stone him so he had to leave and go into hiding.

The Holy Trinity concept is a difficult one to get our heads around, challenging to understand but we know that Jesus was in the beginning with God and that he was God because this is what scripture tells us.  We also know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to touch the disciples at Pentecost.  Although it’s a difficult concept to take in, take it in we must because it is the truth, it is the way, it is the Christian life.

It’s lovely to see houses having decorative lights appearing in their windows and in their gardens and some towns and villages also having coloured lights around their lamp posts.  These lights serve to brighten our lives throughout the month of December and a little bit of January but then they are taken down and these lights that have temporarily brightened our lives are put away in storage until next December.  Once they are taken down, the world seems even duller than it was before the lights were put up and we head into whatever the New Year has in store for us.

Our reading teaches us the life that Jesus offers through belief in him provides us with light that will never go out and will never be taken down.  It is the amazing light that darkness can never extinguish.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son into this world that by his life and example, we may learn of your nature and of what you expect from us.  Help us to do as you ask and love and worship you as we should.  May we set an example to those around us, that they too may be drawn to your Holy Word.  May we continue to worship your blessed son who is, who was and who is to come.  Amen

John 1:1-5

In the beginning the Word already existed.  He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 

Yesterday was the first Sunday of advent, always a special Sunday when we begin to set our eyes on Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord and Saviour.  This world in which we live is ever changing, ever evolving.  Day-to-day life is different today than it was in all those previous Decembers we have lived through.  We still have blessings to count, regrets to regret and fears to face.  But the one thing that never changes is the story of that first Christmas and the wonderful promise that it brings.

The story is much more than the baby in the manger.  In these first few verses from the book of John, we learn that Jesus had already existed from the very beginning of time.  Later on, in John 8:58, while he was teaching in a temple, Jesus tells those present that ‘the truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born’.  When they heard him make this statement, their immediate inclination was to stone him so he had to leave and go into hiding.

The Holy Trinity concept is a difficult one to get our heads around, challenging to understand but we know that Jesus was in the beginning with God and that he was God because this is what scripture tells us.  We also know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to touch the disciples at Pentecost.  Although it’s a difficult concept to take in, take it in we must because it is the truth, it is the way, it is the Christian life. 

It’s lovely to see houses having decorative lights appearing in their windows and in their gardens and some towns and villages also having coloured lights around their lamp posts. These lights serve to brighten our lives throughout the month of December and a little bit of January but then they are taken down and these lights that have temporarily brightened our lives are put away in storage until next December.  Once they are taken down, the world seems even duller than it was before the lights were put up and we head into whatever the New Year has in store for us.

Our reading teaches us the life that Jesus offers through belief in him provides us with light that will never go out and will never be taken down.  It is the amazing light that darkness can never extinguish.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son into this world that by his life and example, we may learn of your nature and of what you expect from us.  Help us to do as you ask and love and worship you as we should.  May we set an example to those around us, that they too may be drawn to your Holy Word.  May we continue to worship your blessed son who is, who was and who is to come.  Amen

John 1:1-5

In the beginning the Word already existed.  He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 

Yesterday was the first Sunday of advent, always a special Sunday when we begin to set our eyes on Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord and Saviour.  This world in which we live is ever changing, ever evolving.  Day-to-day life is different today than it was in all those previous Decembers we have lived through.  We still have blessings to count, regrets to regret and fears to face.  But the one thing that never changes is the story of that first Christmas and the wonderful promise that it brings.

The story is much more than the baby in the manger.  In these first few verses from the book of John, we learn that Jesus had already existed from the very beginning of time.  Later on, in John 8:58, while he was teaching in a temple, Jesus tells those present that ‘the truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born’.  When they heard him make this statement, their immediate inclination was to stone him so he had to leave and go into hiding.

The Holy Trinity concept is a difficult one to get our heads around, challenging to understand but we know that Jesus was in the beginning with God and that he was God because this is what scripture tells us.  We also know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to touch the disciples at Pentecost.  Although it’s a difficult concept to take in, take it in we must because it is the truth, it is the way, it is the Christian life. 

It’s lovely to see houses having decorative lights appearing in their windows and in their gardens and some towns and villages also having coloured lights around their lamp posts. These lights serve to brighten our lives throughout the month of December and a little bit of January but then they are taken down and these lights that have temporarily brightened our lives are put away in storage until next December.  Once they are taken down, the world seems even duller than it was before the lights were put up and we head into whatever the New Year has in store for us.

Our reading teaches us the life that Jesus offers through belief in him provides us with light that will never go out and will never be taken down.  It is the amazing light that darkness can never extinguish.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son into this world that by his life and example, we may learn of your nature and of what you expect from us.  Help us to do as you ask and love and worship you as we should.  May we set an example to those around us, that they too may be drawn to your Holy Word.  May we continue to worship your blessed son who is, who was and who is to come.  Amen