JULY 16

We have ventured through the book of Ephesians during the first half of this month. Now, we move on to 1 John.


We are all significant to God and we have hope in Jesus Christ! Enjoy this study with your families over the 2nd half of July!

-Pastor Russ

Families/Individuals with No Young Children

Families/Individuals with no young children, please follow this devotional by Pastor Russ Fairbanks:


1 John 1:1-4

 

"1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us - 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete."

 

Studying history has been one of my favorite subjects and life hobbies. There is so much we learn when we understand what people before us did and how we established many of our norms today. Much of who we are today is because we watched other people and emulated them.

The point that jumps out at me when reading this passage is that Jesus has always been. Jesus wasn't the product of Mary. Mary may have birthed Christ on the earth in human form, but Jesus Christ has eternally existed as God the Son. He is the genuine article that isn't merely a representative of God. He was God and is God before time, as we understand it, began. It's an amazing thought that when we look at Jesus' life we are seeing God in the flesh.

Those who witnessed the life of Christ had to express that they had seen the One who had walked the earth and showed them how to live so that we could follow the life of Jesus Christ and do what He did, speak as He spoke, and love as He loved.

Today, take a moment and look at yourself. How much of who you are is a copy or 2.0 of what you have seen and heard throughout your life? Some of that is good and some of it we recognize are bad habits we've picked up. In all things, the most pointed question is, "How much are my words and my actions like Jesus Christ?" Let's allow our study of 1 John lead us deeper into an understanding of the life that we need to emulate. His name is Jesus.

 

-Pastor Russ