'I am the light of the world'

This blog post is going to be a little different. You'll be glad to know that I won't be writing much. In fact, I want to let the young people from Helen's Bay Youth share instead.

Last night at YF, we were continuing our 'I Am' series looking at the 'I am' sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The topic for last night was 'I am the light of the world' found in John 8.

We spent a bit of time in silence, praying and reflecting on how Jesus is the light of the world. Three of the young people shared their thoughts at the end, and I was blown away. Hopefully you will be as encouraged and challenged reading them, as I was hearing them last night...

'People are in darkness and are afraid. Jesus is the light that guides them to a better place. He is the beacon of light at the end of the tunnel, and therefore he is their hope. People without Jesus are in the dark, but people with Jesus have seen the light and their eyes are opened by the light that is truth.'

- Amy

Are you living in spiritual darkness? Struggling in life with nowhere to turn, and nobody to turn to? Well don't worry, because just like Amy said, there's hope. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. That light is Jesus. He came to take away all our pain and suffering, and give us a better life with Him. Check it out...

'The sun turns night into day just like Jesus can change our lives around for the better, and bring us out of our sin. Jesus is the light of the world, because light takes away darkness just like Jesus took away our sin on the cross.'

- Anna

If you're reading this, and you haven't yet made that choice to accept Jesus into your heart as the light of the world, then don't wait. Just as Anna says, Jesus can change your life around for the better. He's already taken your sin away, and now he wants to be your best friend. But maybe you're reading this as a Christian already, well guess what, the next ones for you...

'Light is necessary for life and growth. For example, a plant needs light to grow tall, and it has to be able to grow its roots deep in the ground. We are like plants but our light is Jesus, and we need him to grow and develop our faith. Without him we would not be able to have a strong faith with which we are able to overcome bad times. With these "deep roots" of faith that we have, we do not get led astray by sin or any distractions that come our way.'

- Rachel

Couldn't have put it better myself. As Rachel said, we won't grow in our faith if we don't spend time with Jesus. You can be a Christian by believing in Jesus, but if you neglect your relationship with him then you're going to be like a plant that doesn't get any sunlight - withered and unhealthy. And unhealthy plants don't bear good fruit. Pick up your Bible, talk to God in prayer, get your daily dose of sunlight! Grow and be healthy in your faith!

Unbelievable! Jesus is the light of the world. You can take it so many different ways, but no matter how you take it, it will always apply to you. Have a think yourself, how else is Jesus like light? And is he shining in your life?

"I am the bread of life"

When I was younger, getting a McDonald's was a special treat. I used to love it. But nowadays, I'm not so fussed on it. Why? Because I like to be filled. I like big portions that don't leave me hungry an hour later. When you eat a Big Mac from McDonald's, sure, it tastes great. But it doesn't fill you! It doesn't satisfy the hunger. My question is, are we living a Big Mac life?

Jesus declared, 

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

- John 6 v 35

1. Satisfying the hunger

I think everyone goes through life with a hunger. A hole. A void. Call it what you will. Perhaps, it can be best described as feeling as though we're missing something. So what do we do to this hunger? We try to satisfy it. Fill the hole. Close the void. We try drinking, smoking, drugs, relationships, success, money, fame. The list goes on. The only thing that can satisfy this hunger is the bread of life. Jesus Christ. Turn to Jesus and be fulfilled. Sustained. Satisfied.

2. Eating everyday

But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that we accept Jesus into our lives, and instantly our hunger is satisfied. Don't think that because we go to church once a week then we're no longer hungry.

How long does it take you before you get hungry? How long can you go without food before you start to notice? If you're anything like me then I bet it isn't very long. A few hours usually. But have you ever thought, how long can you go without reading your Bible? How long does it take you before you start to miss praying? Again if you're anything like me, then I bet it is a lot longer...

Our spiritual food isn't any different from our physical food. We should be eating every day. How do we expect be full and satisfied in our faith if we aren't eating on a regular basis? If you only eat once a week, then you're going to be physically hungry. In the same way, if we only spend meaningful time with Jesus, growing in our faith, once a week, then we're going to be spiritually malnourished too. If you've no appetite, then you're going to be hungry.

This scares people. It freaked people out when Jesus was preaching this message thousands of years ago, and likewise it freaks people out when they hear this today. Total commitment? Nah, I just want a little bit of Jesus in my life. Just a few crumbs. They eat rarely, and as a result are rarely satisfied. Everyone wants to be full, but nobody wants to eat. They're living the Big Mac life. What are you eating?

"I am He"

Have you ever been thirsty?
A hot summer's day, absolutely parched for a drink? The type of thirst that only an ice cold glass of Fanta lemon would solve?! Well you're not the only one...

There's a passage in John 4 where Jesus is also super thirsty. Give it a quick read so you know what's going on! Basically, Jesus wants a drink. He's walking in the desert, and comes across a well. At this well there is a Samaritan woman is sitting, drawing water herself. Jesus goes over to her and asks for a drink. And a conversation takes place ensues...

But what I truly love about this passage is that I believe that it really shows the Father heart of God. A Jew and a Samaritan. A man and a woman. The Sinless with the sinner. There were so many reasons that what Jesus did was culturally wrong, socially unacceptable and religiously forbidden. It doesn't seem to matter when God sees one of His children whom He loves. The question for us today, as Christians, as the Church, does it matter to us too? The people that don't fit in, the ones that are pushed to the margins of society, those people that nobody else loves. Do we love them? Are we more concerned with reputation and popularity? Perhaps we'd rather judge them because they live differently to us? Maybe we should be more focused on reaching out a loving hand across a chasm of division and hurt? Maybe we should follow the example of Christ Himself.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

The woman tries to tell Jesus that she'll wait until the Messiah comes so he can explain everything to her then. Little does she know she's already talking to the Messiah! She's talking to the very Saviour she's been waiting for without even knowing it! So Jesus tells her - I am He. What he's basically saying to her is, I'm here now so what are you waiting for?

And that's my exact same question to you. What are you waiting for? That's the challenge. Are you reading this as somebody who is thinking about making that commitment to following Jesus and perhaps you're just putting it off? What are you waiting for?! Are you reading this as a Christian already, but lately you haven't been reading your Bible or praying or going to Church. What are you waiting for?! To all of us reading, are we showing compassion, kindness and love to the groups of people and individuals that nobody else does. If we don't... then what are we waiting for?!

Are you thirsty? Then don't wait. Drink now.

8 comes before 22

What would you do with £57.8 million?

On Saturday night the National Lottery Jackpot was at a record £57.8 million. It got me thinking about being gifted such a life changing sum of money. Never working again, never needing to earn a living. So I had a look online, and was reading an article that listed on average the top 10 best paid jobs in USA in 2015. The top 3 were as follows:

Surgeon - $352,220

Psychiatrist - $181,880

Physician (GP) - $180,180

High powered jobs. Big salaries. But the money doesn't come for free, it is earned. And although in our lives we need to work hard and earn a living, there is one thing that we don't need to earn. And it's worth remembering. Check out Genesis 6 and the story of Noah to catch my drift...

Verse 8 - But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD.

Verse 22 - Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Noah didn't earn God's favour. He didn't work hard to gain God's trust. He didn't impress God, so that He would love him. Verse 8 comes before 22. Noah had done nothing at all yet. But God still loved him, still accepted him and still called him for service.

People think the Bible is a big rulebook. A list of do's and don't's. A manual for how to live if you want to get into Heaven. And if you don't tick all the boxes then God doesn't love you and you're going to Hell. But they couldn't be further from the truth. Christianity isn't about what we can do for Jesus, it's about what Jesus has already done for us. If you follow Jesus, you don't need to earn His love.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

- Romans 3 v 23 - 24

We live in a world where it's all about making the grade. You need to achieve the best exam results, act a certain way, dress like this, look like that. It's all about what you do - there's no results unless you earn it. But it's worth taking a breath, and remembering that you don't need to earn anything from God. There's no pressure, because He already loves you. Whether you fail your exams or not. Whether you're on the sports team or not. Whether you're the most popular kid in class or not. Whether you earn the highest salary or not. God loves you.

As followers of Jesus, we should live a certain way and do certain things not because our salvation or relationship with God depends on it. God already loves us, and we can't work our way into Heaven. We don't go to church or read the Bible so that God will love us. We follow Jesus and live this way, because God already loves us. And He sent His son Jesus to die for us. For you too. Our belief should dictate our behaviour, not the other way around.

Religion says - "I obey therefore I am accepted by God."

The Gospel says - "I am accepted by God therefore I obey."

All you need to do is confess with your mouth and believe with your heart. Jesus already earned your freedom on the cross. 

Remember that 8 comes before 22.

Let Jesus in

Christmas has come and gone in the blink of an eye once again. Over the next few days we will be saying goodbye to 2015, and hello to a new year. Talk of fresh starts, resolutions, and "New Year, new me" have already begun.

Although Christmas is over, I find myself looking towards the New Year with a passage from the famous Christmas story still ringing in my ears.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Mary, Joseph, and little baby Jesus. A story we're all so familiar with. Mary and Joseph come to the town of Bethlehem, and they're looking for a place to stay as Mary is needing to give birth. They arrive at the inn, and they knock on the door...

Sorry, we've no room.

You've got to go some place else. 

We just can't fit you in right now.

This isn't just a story happening a thousand years ago. This is a story that happens every day. Today. Jesus is knocking at the door. He wants to be a part of our lives; to come in and live with us.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

But don't be fooled into thinking that this message isn't for you if you're already a Christian. In fact, I think this story speaks to me more now as someone who's been following Christ for 7 years. 7 years, and I still tell Jesus that I can't fit Him in right now. 

It's worth thinking about. From day to day, week to week, even throughout the year, do you fit Jesus in? Do you even bother letting Jesus in at all? Is He crammed in on a Sunday morning, if He's lucky, or is little baby Jesus squeezed in on Christmas day and that's all? 

As a serious follower of Christ, I read this passage and it hurts. Because I know that although my relationship with Jesus should be top of my priorities, it isn't. I know that when I give time to God, I am just fitting Him in where it suits me.

As I look to 2016, that's the challenge. To let Jesus in. To make Him the centre of the not only the year, but of every day in 2016. It's one thing to let Jesus in the front door, but will you let Him into every other part of your house too?

Will you send Jesus some place else? Or will you let Jesus in?

Missing Christ in Christmas

The presents. The turkey. The time off school. Family and friends. Christmas is an amazing time of the year without a doubt. But I think that every time it rolls round, I'm getting caught up in all of those things and actually missing the bigger picture. Missing the heart of Christmas. Missing Christ in Christmas.

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” 

- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

In Matthew 21, we read about Jesus' triumphal entry in Jerusalem. Everybody is praising Jesus, throwing down their cloaks on the road and laying down palm leaves for him. But when someone asks, "Who is this", the crowds answered:

"This is Jesus, the prophet"

The prophet? Jesus was the Son of God. He Himself was God! He was their long awaited Messiah, coming to save everyone from their sins. Did they miss it? Do we still miss it?

This Christmas, don't just remember the reason for the season is Jesus. But remember why Jesus is the reason of the season! Don't let it be a happy thought in the back of your mind, but let that knowledge affect how you spend your time over the holiday period. 

Don't miss the Christ this Christmas.

Peter Peter Peter - part 3

The Blind Mice. The Little Pigs. Goldilock's Bears.

Hanson. Destiny's Child. The Bee Gees.

Rock Paper Scissors. Snap Crackle Pop. The tasty BLT.

By now you've maybe noticed the connection, that all of the above are famous trios!

Last week at YF, we looked at Peter's denial of Jesus. How many times did Peter deny Jesus? You got it. 3 times. This week we were looking another episode between Peter and Jesus, and again the number 3 is a key feature. Check it out in John 21 v 15 - 17...

"Do you love me?"

Was Jesus hard of hearing? Did He just not understand? Why did He ask Peter 3 times?! I'm sure the significance of repeating the question 3 times was no coincidence. Was it a reference to the 3 times Peter denied Jesus? Perhaps Jesus was just checking in on Peter's commitment. 

What do you think?

"Feed my sheep"

Why did Jesus keep telling Peter to feed sheep? Did Jesus own sheep? Were His pet sheep hungry? Well actually Jesus is described as the 'Good Shepherd', and His followers are His sheep. His flock. Before Jesus went back to Heaven, He was calling Peter to take care of His people. He wasn't telling Peter to feed people physically, but instead to feed them spiritually.

After I read this story, I tend to find myself thinking about two important questions for my own walk of faith:

1) Do I love Jesus?

2) What is Jesus calling me to do?

Big picture. Career. Vocation. Calling. 

What does Jesus want you to do with your life?

But also every day. What is Jesus calling you to do? To say? How to act? 

There's only one way you'll find the answer to this question... Ask Him! 

Pick up your Bible and read it. Ask God in prayer!

If you love Jesus, if you are His follower, if you are one of His sheep, then you need to ask yourself what Jesus is calling you to do?