Saturday, April 14, 2012

From just hearing to sharing in the joy

For April 15, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version
This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures. It works well if shared between two or more people as a conversation but there is much to be gained by just considering the questions for yourself. Commentaries for the lectionary scripture can be found on Textweek through this link
http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/1john3a.htm
This week the Lectionary scripture is from 1 John and begins with words which would come from an actual witness to Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion and the resurrected Christ. This begins a teaching about living the life as Jesus’ followers when we did not share that life changing time with him. The related Lectionary gospel scripture for today is John 20:19-31 which tells us about Thomas and his doubts about the risen Christ which has some similar themes.

1 John 1:1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
3-4We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

• What does the writer tell us he experienced? How did it impact him? How would it have impacted you if you were there and saw with your own eyes?
• Does this testimony carry any weight with you? Why or why not?
• Has your faith journey been affected by the personal faith stories of others? Are there any which are memorable? Have you ever encourage anyone with your own experiences about the impact of your faith on your life?
• Do those who are committed to a faith journey have an obligation to encourage others with their faith stories? Why or why not?
• What does the writer want us to share with him? What does “communion with the father and his son” mean to you?
What is his motive for writing? Has your faith life brought you times of joy? What were the circumstances?

The writer tells us how we can experience what he did:

5This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
6-7If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
8-10If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

• What is the essence of his message? What do his words about God being pure light mean to you? What might be the traces of darkness he assures us are not in God?
He tells us not to stumble around in the dark, what does that mean to you? Where do we find the light for our faith journey? What brings you insight to your faith life and helps you maintain balance?
 Practically how do we “experience a shared life with one another”? What can we share? Can there be instances when it is hard to share – why? What is the example he gives us of Jesus’ sharing his life? What does this tell us about the limitations we consciously and unconsciously place on our willingness to share with others?
Is it always easy to confess our shortcomings to ourselves? How do we shield ourselves from admitting them? How does hearing or reading the word sin affect you? How do you fell about the degree of honesty you have in acknowledging your shortcomings?
• What is the reward for being honest with God about ourselves? Who are we kidding if we are not? Who suffers the consequences? Has the willingness to face personal shortcomings been a positive for you in your life? What have some benefits been? Have some been very painful? Have you sensed forgiveness when prayerfully sharing them with God?

We get this scripture’s final assurance from the writer:

1 John 2:1-2 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

• What are the chances we will steer clear of sin throughout our lives? What is our assurance? How was the “sin problem” solved?
What does this say about the understanding we should have about our relationship with God? How should we visualize the God with whom we are urged to be honest about and request forgiveness from for our sins? Does God want to hear and forgive?
• What is one thing that you will take away from the scripture and you meditation today? Are you going to find an opportunity to share it with someone else? The writer did.

Closing Prayer
Loving God, I offer what I am to what you are. I stretch up to you in desire, my attention on you alone. I cannot grasp you, explain you, describe you, only cast myself into the depths of your mystery. Let your love pierce the cloud of my unknowing that I might walk in the light. Amen
Adapted from George Appleton – Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48



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