1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some ways that the inner desire for relationship that was knit into each of us by God plays out in your life and your relationships with others?
What do you think are some implications of having access to the Eternal God?
Prayer of the Week:
Our Father who art in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom reign come, Your will be done …
Jesus thank you for making it possible through Your life, death and resurrection for me to engage personally with my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for Your constant and consistent work calling me to daily follow You by faith and enlightening me with your gifts and fiery yet gentle presence. Fill me afresh that I might follow You well this day.
Jesus, even as I began this prayer with the opening phrase of that familiar prayer You taught us to pray I am struck by the first word, “Our”. As I come to You now, Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am not alone. I not only have Your presence with me but I am part of Your family here on earth. I have a place at the table among Your many children, I am not forgotten, I am a child of God and member of Your family – the church. I am part of “a people belonging to God.”
Jesus, I thank you for the church, the body of Christ, the people of God and I now take my place as a vital part of it. I lift up my local church, Point of Grace (or whatever local expression of the church you are connected to) and ask You to move mightily among us as a church in these unusual times. I ask specifically that You would show me ways that I could tangibly help my church Recover TOGETHER. The condition and climate of the world has been hard on “togetherness” and I ask You to help me see my vital yet appropriate role in the restoration and renewal of “togetherness” in my church that my church might continue to be a vibrant place of restoration and renewal for people. (Please take a few moments as this prayer concludes to contemplate, pray and listen to Jesus respond to the petition, Jesus, what can I be doing in this season to “Recover TOGETHER” in my life and for my church?)
Amen
