SENT
Prayer
Praying On The Journey With Christ
A Commitment To Encounter Christ Through The Gospel Of John
Object:
John 1:6-9
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
COMMENTARY
John the Baptist is introduced in this passage of Scripture as one who was sent from God to tell about the light that was coming, so that all might believe. He was a man with a mission, working by faith, for he was testifying to what he had not yet seen.
PRAYER
Heavenly light, true light, sender of John the Baptist to those who want to shine within like a candle in a lamp, how am I to believe this man if he is not the light himself? What did he know of the Christ who was coming? What are his credentials?
Lord, I am very suspicious of witnesses. Their imaginations are often better than their memories. Their motives are more suspect than their message. I have been barraged by false witnesses all my life. I check others out, Lord, and they check me out, too. I look for secret agendas and ulterior motives. I keep track of others' accomplishments, degrees, and privileges. I don't trust just anyone anymore.
I'm glad that John the Baptist didn't have to say that he was sent by you, for that would make him harder to believe. I'm glad that it was said about him, not by him. More than anything, though, I'm glad that you sent him. I am glad that you send.
John's task, Lord, seemed doomed to fail from the start. I would not have wanted his job. It seems to me as though you shorted him on power. He had to witness with vigor to what he had not yet seen. At least, Lord, he could talk about "light" to people who knew what a dark night was all about! Today, in this neon world of electric lights and city streets, his job would be impossible.
Lord, you sent John, a mere human being, to do holy work. You sent him out and away from the traffic of the day, and expected the rest of us to listen ... to look for an approaching light. You gave him a duty and a message about the light, but you made him work by faith. You made him work in the dark ... and in the wilderness.
Thank you, Lord, for John. Thank you for gifting him with enough faith to keep on track, even in the dark, and among dark souls. Thank you for using one of us mortals to do immortal work.
Lord, help me learn and be about what you've sent me to do for you, not so dramatically as John, of course, but with every bit the same credentials as a child of your own rearing and redeeming. Amen.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
COMMENTARY
John the Baptist is introduced in this passage of Scripture as one who was sent from God to tell about the light that was coming, so that all might believe. He was a man with a mission, working by faith, for he was testifying to what he had not yet seen.
PRAYER
Heavenly light, true light, sender of John the Baptist to those who want to shine within like a candle in a lamp, how am I to believe this man if he is not the light himself? What did he know of the Christ who was coming? What are his credentials?
Lord, I am very suspicious of witnesses. Their imaginations are often better than their memories. Their motives are more suspect than their message. I have been barraged by false witnesses all my life. I check others out, Lord, and they check me out, too. I look for secret agendas and ulterior motives. I keep track of others' accomplishments, degrees, and privileges. I don't trust just anyone anymore.
I'm glad that John the Baptist didn't have to say that he was sent by you, for that would make him harder to believe. I'm glad that it was said about him, not by him. More than anything, though, I'm glad that you sent him. I am glad that you send.
John's task, Lord, seemed doomed to fail from the start. I would not have wanted his job. It seems to me as though you shorted him on power. He had to witness with vigor to what he had not yet seen. At least, Lord, he could talk about "light" to people who knew what a dark night was all about! Today, in this neon world of electric lights and city streets, his job would be impossible.
Lord, you sent John, a mere human being, to do holy work. You sent him out and away from the traffic of the day, and expected the rest of us to listen ... to look for an approaching light. You gave him a duty and a message about the light, but you made him work by faith. You made him work in the dark ... and in the wilderness.
Thank you, Lord, for John. Thank you for gifting him with enough faith to keep on track, even in the dark, and among dark souls. Thank you for using one of us mortals to do immortal work.
Lord, help me learn and be about what you've sent me to do for you, not so dramatically as John, of course, but with every bit the same credentials as a child of your own rearing and redeeming. Amen.
