I have slowed down on Psalms to give the class some time to catch up. Beginning next week I'll be back daily with Psalm 119:9-16. Until then let's look at some things from John:
I've told a few in our class that before we start teaching through the book (John) you need to read it all. Get familiar with it; just read it like a long letter. It will take about 2 hours... so turn of the TV and read. Start a notebook and write the verse references down that jump out at you...don't study them, just note them. If you have a question about something you don't understand; right it down. Don't go looking for the answer yet, just right the questions down. Let God answer them as you read, or if He doesn't seem to and you don't understand ask them in class or in this blog so we can discuss them. Make a practice of this as you read the Bible. Often the more you read the more questions you right down will get answered.
One thing that has stood out to me is the beginning verses in John ( 1- 18 ) are actually John's conclusion. He concluded after all the time and years he spent with Jesus that Jesus was God. After everything he heard and witnessed he had one thing to say. "God became a man and dwelt among us...we beheld His glory" ( vs. 14)
Question: If you claim Christ is in your life; that you are one of His children... what do people conclude that are around you? Do they hear your words and believe they are from God? Do they see your actions and determine that you are not of this world? Do they see you going through difficult circumstances with grace, mercy, kindness, patience? Do they hear you say "Forgive them, they know not what they do". Can someone else say that by being around you they have 'beheld God's glory' that 'God was dwelling in you'? ( Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and 1 Timothy 1:16-17 )
