Page 45 - Living Light - A Message of Joy!

Friday January 19 - Found in Jesus
...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ... Philippians 3:9
Those three beautiful little words, ‘found in him’ are priceless treasures. They assure us that when God looks at Jesus, there we are too, safely found ‘in him’... like a little lost lamb now enfolded in its Shepherd’s arms. ‘For you died,’ Paul reminds us, ‘and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3).
Sometimes we may find ourselves slipping into thinking that a ‘good work’, perhaps even our Christian ministry, somehow adds something to our ‘spiritual account’ with God – but everywhere Paul reminds us not to do this! In today’s verse we’re reminded to put our full confidence and trust in what the Lord Jesus has done for us – for only being ‘found in him’ makes us right with God, and faith in Jesus’ death on the cross in our place is the only thing of value in our ‘spiritual account’. Everything else is a loss!
Jesus turns the world’s ‘religious value system’ upside down! Most religions place great emphasis on gaining God’s favour through religious rituals and works, and Paul readily admits that he once had confidence in these, thinking his rituals and deeds (religious works, theological knowledge, circumcision) made him ‘right with God’. When he received Jesus, he realised these things were worthless in comparison – in fact, complete rubbish!
Father, you are my Good Shepherd, the all-loving, all-powerful, keeper of my soul. I thank you that I can be confident in your powerful love for me in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Saturday January 20 - Hidden with Christ
I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and
participation in his sufferings... Philippians 3:10
One night, terrorists began shooting, and ransacking the little compound in Africa where our missionary friends were living. Our friends later told us, “...as the terrorists reached our hiding place, we realised our earthly lives would end very soon, so we quietly gave thanks that our heavenly life was about to begin.” Thankfully, miraculously, our friends escaped unharmed, and continue to bear beautiful witness to the resurrection confidence Jesus offers – in an area of Africa where terrorists attack and kill more Christians than anywhere else on earth.
In today’s verse, Paul highlights that the key to confident assurance is knowing Christ. Not simply knowing about Christ, but personally knowing him as the Living Lord Jesus – experiencing his Holy Spirit at work in our hearts and lives, transforming us in holiness and Christ-likeness!
Our life in Christ is continuous, beginning with repentance and ‘new birth’ and continuing to heavenly fulfilment: ‘Since then you have been raised with Christ... set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory’ (Colossians 3:1-4).
We have the greatest treasure and joy on earth: friendship with Jesus now, and all his glory to come! Let’s fix our minds on Jesus today... who is our life!
Father, I praise you for your kindness to me in Jesus – that my life is today, and forever, with you! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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