Lighting Experience – Day 3

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“So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13 This bible text is Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and the letter goes on to encourage the church at Philippians in verse 15 that the world is sinful and corrupt but that they must shine among them like stars lighting up the skies.

We cannot overemphasis the obvious that we are called to shine out; to illuminate this world. This task of illuminating the world is a continuous task that must be done in fear and trembling. However, we are reminded that God is at work in us to give us the grace to obey his purpose. Is it that simple?

Today we share Psalm 36 from the translation of the Good News Bible. Click below to read this text.

21 Day Lighting Experience – Psalm 36 (GNT)

36
Human Wickedness
Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; they reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2 Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. 3 Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good. 4 They make evil plans as they lie in bed; nothing they do is good, and they never reject anything evil.

The Goodness of God
5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[b] protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous. 11 Do not let proud people attack me or the wicked make me run away. 12 See where evil people have fallen. There they lie, unable to rise.

We have chosen to use another version today for two reasons. First to appreciate another translation of the psalm and maybe learn something new. Secondly, so that we don’t get too comfortable with the psalm. For every time we read a biblical message through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are lead into a new revelation. Now the text!

This translation of Psalm 36 is clearly divided into two parts:

  1. Human Wickedness 36: 1-4
  2. The Goodness of God 36: 5-12

This translation is direct and explains that “Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts… they reject God and have no reverence for him.” This is a confirmation of the text in Jeremiah 17:9-10 that “The heart of man in desperately wicked…” Remember that Jesus also teaches us that uncleanliness comes from within and not from the physical dirt around us. Mark 7: 14-20 This means that what leads us to sin is the willingness of the heart to approve of an evil desire and accept to commit it. In our hearts we have conceived evil, in our hearts we have given birth to destruction. Lord please have mercy on us!

Search your heart…

What Speaks to you in your heart?

The last statement of verse 4 scares me the most, it says “…and they never reject anything evil.” It may be difficult for the light of God to shine in someone who never rejects anything evil. Are we not to shine among others like stars at night? Can we shine out if we have put out our light? What must we do? We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that God is ever ready to work in us.

This leads us to today’s portion of John’s gospel: John chapter 3. Please click below to read the full text.

21 Day Lighting Experience – John Chapter 3

3 There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. 2 One night he went to Jesus and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.”[a] 4 “How can a grown man be born again?” Nicodemus asked. “He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!” 5 “I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 A person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit. 7 Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again.[b] 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 Jesus answered, “You are a great teacher in Israel, and you don't know this? 11 I am telling you the truth: we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, yet none of you is willing to accept our message. 12 You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? 13 And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.”[c] 14 As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. 18 Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son. 19 This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. 20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God. 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the province of Judea, where he spent some time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon, not far from Salim, because there was plenty of water in that place. People were going to him, and he was baptizing them. (24 This was before John had been put in prison.) 25 Some of John's disciples began arguing with a Jew[d] about the matter of ritual washing. 26 So they went to John and told him, “Teacher, you remember the man who was with you on the east side of the Jordan, the one you spoke about? Well, he is baptizing now, and everyone is going to him!” 27 John answered, “No one can have anything unless God gives it. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bridegroom is the one to whom the bride belongs; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens, is glad when he hears the bridegroom's voice. This is how my own happiness is made complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.” 31 He who comes from above is greater than all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly matters, but he who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He tells what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his message. 33 But whoever accepts his message confirms by this that God is truthful. 34 The one whom God has sent speaks God's words, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything in his power. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, personally. And yes, this is a very familiar gospel passage. Many questions have been raised and answered about why he, a man of the law, a leader, a respected man would choose to go visit by night. Is it a matter of secrecy, urgency, or was it their way of doing things? The most important thing is that the man found the need and desire to see the master. Before we judge Nicodemus, who was working out his salvation, have we found the need and desire to see and be with the master? We all need to carefully and purposefully work out our salvation, personally. We all need an encounter with the master every day! And what do we hope to get from him? We must come to Jesus to hear the truth! The truth about our lives and the truth about our eternal journey. We must come to the master to receive the light!

Nicodemus acclaimed that the leaders knew that Jesus Christ was a man of God, but unlike them Nicodemus was interested in the truth. And Jesus told him the truth – no man can see the Kingdom of God without being born again! This is the most preached text and it has come with its various interpretations and misuse. We would not attempt to reflect on this message but would just point out a beautiful fact. Jesus reveals to us that it is difficult to do away with a desperately sinful heart. We try to please God but we continue to dive into sin. Can we die to ourselves and receive a new birth? Can we be born of the water that would cleanse us and the spirit that would lead us? Are we ready to be born of water and the spirit? Are you ready to reject darkness and receive the light of God?

Are ready to be born again?

After all the public show of our knowledge and love of God in church or our places of work or worship, we must always go to Jesus personally, every night, to hear the truth about how far we have done, and receive more grace for the journey! At night, we should create time to examine our conscience and examine the wickedness of our heart. We must wash with the water and allow the spirit of God to lead us into the light. The more we walk in the light, the more we walk closer to God!

Furthermore, the second part of Psalm 36 tells us about the goodness of God. Because of the goodness of God, our wickedness has not consumed us. God loves us that is why he sent his son so that we might be redeemed. Verse 12 tells us that where wicked people have fallen; there they lie unable to rise. Jesus has come to save us from our wickedness and raise those who have already fallen, unable to rise.

“…Work out your salvation with fear and trembling…”

Finally, John the Baptist who is an epitome of humility and obedience, reemphasizes what Jesus told Nicodemus in verse 19-21 (please re-read this portion). John continues to point us to the light and shows us how to test our hearts to know if we are wicked… are we wicked? Are we ready to believe and obey? Oh that today you listen to his voice, harden not your heart.

Join us tomorrow, 3rd February for Lighting Experience – Day 4

Speechlesswaters

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