October 21 - Light Has Come

Today's Reading:
Leviticus 11:1-12:8
John 3:1-21
Psalm 31:19-24 
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Focus Verses: 
John 3:16-19
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."

Insight:
Jesus' words to Nicodemus are very straightforward. "The Son" is God's plan for saving the world. Salvation comes through believing in the Son. Condemnation is not the penalty for rejecting the Son. Rather, condemnation is where we are until we are saved by the Son. Jesus, God's Son, is the one who rescues us from darkness and condemnation.

Response and Action:
I want to take hold of God's gift of salvation. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. My faith in Jesus draws me into his light. I want to turn away from evil and do what is right. I want to reflect the light of Christ in my world so that others can believe in Him too.

O Lord, help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me to walk in the light and to recognize Jesus as the true light. Help my life to be a light and witness of Jesus' power to save and transform. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses:  
1 John 5:11-12
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Resources:
Becoming a Christian
by John Stott