July 1, 2015 … Light of the World

Blogger Note:  This blog is being published a day early due to preparations for our travels to Alaska for a 50th anniversary cruise.  During our travels, from July 1-12, I may have to post my blogs somewhat off my normal daily morning schedule.  However I will be doing all I can to maintain my daily discipline of my time with God and His word.  ... WRB 

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 182

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of the St Olaf College Choir singing Even When He is Silent, Illustrating the beautiful result of the rehearsal discipline of this famous Christian college choir … i.e., beautiful music sung to glory of God.

Highlight Passage John 4: 16-18 [ESV] … 
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 
… King Jesus is the Light of the World
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Highlight Context - John 4: 1-30 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… The Samaritan woman at the well is willing to be vulnerable as to her failures and let Jesus save her.
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 Reference Passage #1 - John 3: 17 [ESV] … 
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 
… Jesus declares to the Sanhedrin Pharisee, Nicodemus, that He was God’s Son sent to save the world.

Reference Passage #2 - 1st John 1: 5-9 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… Only when we’re willing to admit our sin and seek His forgiveness are we able to be cleansed and made whole in Christ.

Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Julie Ackerman Link, in her ODB teaching, relates a story about the rehearsal practices of the famous St. Olaf College Choir. The Choir, at the small Lutheran college in Minnesota, is world renown for it’s singing of beautiful and intricate Christian choir music, the results of which can be heard in the above linked YouTube sample of their singing.

 However, thought the outcome of the work put in by the choir director and the choir is incredible music, sung for the glory of God, it was the choir’s rehearsal practices which ODB author, Link, highlighted in her ODB blog for today. Link reports that during rehearsals the St Olaf choir members are disciplined to raise their hand any time they feel they are not sure of their singing part or they feel they have made a mistake. In this way the Director can make sure that each individual choir member becomes confident to sing their own part and to contribute to the singing of the entire choir.

 That kind of vulnerability is what the Lord sought of His people with so much failure in the Old Testament and what Jesus came to each as a man to save mankind from his unwillingness to repent and be made whole by the Grace of God. It’s what He proclaimed to the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4 linked above). The dear soul had to be willing to admit her sinfulness, repent, and allow Jesus to heal and save her. It’s what Jesus was trying to teach to the Sanhedrin Pharisee, Nicodemus, … that He, Jesus, had come to save mankind of their sins … IF … any were willing to repent and believe in Him as their LORD and Savior. But so often, we are not willing to do to hold up our hand, as the St. Olaf choir members do, and admit our faults or confusion. We tend to hid or coverup our sins or failures, don’t we?

 But only when were willing to do what God teaches in 1st John 1: 5-9, linked above, and confess our sins to be cleansed and renewed in Christ, will we be able to sing clear and God-honoring notes, contributing to the CHOIR, known as God’s Church, singing glorious and melodious music, TOGETHER, for God’s glory.

 So, let’s be sure we lift up clear and harmonious singing - from our lives - for God’s glory today.

My Prayer Today: Oh Lord, … Help me to be cleansed by confession of my sins so that I can sing in chorus with others in your Church … sweet music to Your ears. Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.