Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 65:9-13
You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God’s stream is filled with water,
for you prepare the earth in this way,
providing people with grain.
10 You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
11 You crown the year with your goodness;
your carts overflow with plenty.
12 The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks
and the valleys covered with grain.
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
Read the Entire Psalm
You crown the year with your goodness. God’s goodness persists. It invades every year, every season, every moment. Look today for his goodness. It is everywhere. Ask him to help you see his goodness.
Scripture Reading
John 8:12-30 – New International Version
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Isaac and Suzanne as they serve at Black Forest Academy.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
You are in a dark desert, having just barely escaped the murderous army of a cruel king. You have left your home and all you have ever known, and now you are out in a vast, dangerous unknown. Suddenly the camp lights up like midday. You open your tent flap and see a pillar of fire lighting the night sky. What were you so worried about just a few dark moments ago? Things aren’t so bad after all. God has led you so far, he will continue to do so. Amazing how light brings hope, perspective, and courage, and drives away dark fears. We have all experienced the difference the morning sun makes after a dark night full of fears and doubts. “It will feel better in the morning” isn’t always true, but it is based in fact. Jesus said that he is the “light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This is a figure of speech, but it is about an actual reality. He is not a literal flame of fire, but he does quite literally bring light and life to our lives. He dispels the darkness of sin and give us eternal life with God. The darkness of sin is real darkness. It brings doubt and destruction into our lives. The light of his life is real life. We are transformed now and forever. Jesus is the light of the world. Consider this fact often today, no matter what this day brings for you.