Scripture:
John 1:6-8
Wed, 7 December 2022

The Witness of Christmas

Observation:

What was the purpose of John’s assignment as a witness?

Deeper Reflection
THE FIRST FIVE VERSES OF JOHN’S GOSPEL ARE A HYMN OF praise to the eternal Word. John the Evangelist interrupts this heavenly hymn to introduce another John – John the Baptist.4John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus, was sent from God (v.6), commissioned to a specific task. In this respect, he is like the Lord Jesus himself, also sent by God the Father (Jn 3:17). What was John’s task? To bear witness (or testify) to God’s light (v.7). The word “witness” is a term from the law-courts5: John the Baptist is pictured here as a witness in the stands. He provides evidence according to what he knows and has experienced. John the Baptist was not the light, but only a witness to it.Like John the Baptist, we too are sent by God – to our families and places of work. The Greek verb apostello, which means “sent”, is where we get the English word “apostle” from. In a sense, we are all God’s apostles, those He sends! Like John the Baptist, we are sent to testify to the light of God, so that others might come to believe in the Lord (v.7). We testify through our words and deeds. Take heart – we don’t have to be perfect in order to be witnesses for Christ. God can use us, even with our fears and failures, for He is the light. Not us.
3 Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1999). John (Vol. 36, pp. 11-12). Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 5 Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 120). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
Application:

Prepare your personal testimony – a short story of roughly three minutes
that you can easily share with someone to tell him or her about what God
has done in your life.

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That God will use each of us, from all the different generations – children, youth, working adults and seniors – as His witnesses wherever He sends us
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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