Staying on Track

Scripture Reading: John 8:12

"Later on, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'"

Reflection:

Have you ever sat down to complete an important task only to find yourself distracted? I can relate to this. There have been times when I turned on my computer with a specific goal—to study Scripture, send an email, or conduct research—but as soon as I opened my browser, an advertisement, a Facebook notification, or a news feed would catch my attention. Before I knew it, I was lost in a rabbit hole, far from my original task. Valuable and precious minutes slipped away, creating a significant gap between where I intended to be and where I was.

In John 8:1-11, Jesus faced a similar interruption. He was in the middle of teaching in the temple when the scribes and Pharisees interrupted Him by bringing a woman caught in adultery. Their goal was to trap Jesus and derail His ministry. However, Jesus was not sidetracked. He responded with wisdom and compassion, addressing the situation gracefully, and then continued His teaching with the powerful declaration, "I am the light of the world."

Jesus' example reminds us that interruptions are inevitable and don't have to derail our purpose. His light cuts through distractions and refocuses our hearts and minds on what truly matters.

Practical Application:

1. Begin Your Day with Prayer: Ask God to help you focus on His will and protect your time from unnecessary distractions.

2. Identify and Eliminate Distractions: Pay attention to what pulls you away from your goals and set boundaries to limit those distractions.

3. Use Technology Wisely: Be intentional with using devices, setting aside time for focused work and Scripture study without interruptions.

4. Lean on Scripture: Reflect on verses like Hebrews 12:2 to help keep your focus on Jesus.

Takeaway Thought:

Interruptions will come, but they don't have to define us. Let Jesus, the Light of the World, guide you to purpose and peace.

The Light That Brings Us Together

The Light That Brings Us Together

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." – Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)

Thought for the Day: When I let Christ’s light shine through me, it spreads to those around me.

On Christmas Eve, as our congregation sat together in the stillness of the Mullins chapel, we passed the flame from one candle to another. What began as a single flicker in the dark gradually transformed into a radiant glow that filled the room. The light of each candle symbolized the spreading of Christ’s light—uniting us as a family of faith.

This simple yet powerful tradition mirrors the call we receive as followers of Christ. Isaiah reminds us, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” Christ’s light shines brightly, not just for one but for all. Like the magi who journeyed from afar to honor Jesus, we are invited to follow His light, bringing hope and unity to others.

Even in the darkest times, Christ’s light remains within us, illuminating the path ahead. When we let His light shine through our words and actions, it draws others closer to Him. Together, as one body, we reflect the fullness of His glory, creating a beautiful display of unity and love.

Prayer Focus: Pray for opportunities to reflect Christ’s light in your community.

Closing Prayer: Lord, thank You for the light of Christ that shines within me. Help me reflect that light daily, uniting with others in love and faith. May Your light shine brightly through our community, bringing hope and peace. Amen.

Based on a sermon by Rev. Dr. Russell M. Morrow
Delivered to the congregation of Mullins UMC

January 5, 2025

As Christ Forgave You, By Audrey E. Morrow

 If you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But your Father will not forgive your sin if you do not forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15

 We’ve all been hurt, lied to, or cheated on by someone we trust. They did it on purpose, too?  Forgiveness requires us to put away the wrong done to us.  It’s the boss with no apparent humanity—the parents’ divorce, leaving the family in shambles. Your best friend did the unthinkable, and the relationship will never be the same.  “I’m sorry” goes in one ear and out the other; the socially appropriate gesture didn’t quite seem to mend the dent in your heart.  True forgiveness requires a much more excellent source of energy than it takes to respond to a cliche phrase.  Why?  Because forgiveness is hardly about the other person.  It is about your relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

 Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  We must have the mind of Christ to forgive.  Christ’s sacrifice is the gift that keeps on giving.  If we accept Christ’s gift of life, we are responsible for extending the same grace to others.  This can be difficult to hear, but God’s truth is that we cannot be forgiven if we do not forgive (Mark 11:25)

 True forgiveness is impossible to do on our own.  Knowing who we are in Christ Jesus means welcoming God's love into our lives and doing our part to show God's love to others.  Jesus willingly laid down his life for the forgiveness of sins.  His actions signify that God loves us so much that He would put our sins away rather than judge and condemn us. He would instead make a life-and-death sacrifice than leave us to our spiritual destruction.  Yet that same love requires us to dismiss our negativity to be made new. Without God's healing power, unforgiveness breeds sin: hatred, gossip, pride, murder, etc. We cannot freely receive the love of Christ and not share that love with others and think we're straight with God.

 If you need to ask God to help you forgive, pray this prayer: "This is tough, but I believe in Jesus and His love for me.  Help me to choose Christ's way.  Help me to accept that You offer forgiveness for wrongs done to me.  Help me understand that in the fullness of Christ's love, I must offer forgiveness because I accept it.  Be glorified in the lives of those who have done wrong to me, despite their mistakes, because I trust you to do the same for me.  Amen."

Discussion questions:  What does it mean to love our neighbors as ourselves regarding forgiveness?  Why does God’s forgiveness depend on our forgiveness?

Written by Audrey Morrow in 2015  while serving as the youth director at Capleville UMC. In Memphis, TN