Day 16

January 23

Deb Houston

1 John 1:1-5 NIV

1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen.  We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen hm. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life.  He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you that we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. Living in the Light. 5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.  

Our theme for this 21 Days of Prayer is New Beginnings

Genesis 1:1a in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

In his Gospel, John shares clear evidence that Jesus is the Son of God, sent from heaven. He says numerous times; we’ve seen Him, we’ve heard him, we’ve touched Him. As I ponder on this message, I sense his plea for ‘us to hear and feel’ his message, to experience his experience. He says, we proclaim to you!

Think of a time, you shared with someone an exceptional experience of something miraculous happening or an urgent need to know. We wanted undivided attention.  We might say – listen; I saw this with my own eyes, I touched it, I heard what was said! We might touch their arm, maybe turn them to face us to be sure they listen, hear, and understand.  

Why is that? 

We want to engage in a discussion so that they can see, feel, and relate to our experience through us. We want to share the reality of the details so that they experience the same joy as we do.  

Why the sense of urgency in John’s message?  

He says, ’so that we may fully share their joy, that we have fellowship with them, fellowship with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ’. John wants to bring our hearts back to the moment so that we too fully experience the presence of Jesus Christ, just as he has.  

Recall times of joy in our lives as we have New Beginnings and how eager we are to share our joy, the birth of a child, a baptism, an engagement.  

John’s joy is supreme joy.  Joy to the world.

Prayer: Father, thank You for glorious joy we have with Your Son. A joy that surpasses understanding. A joy that overwhelms our hearts. Causes us to live out this joy in a way that others may see You through us. Teach us and Lead Us Father, to be Your light to others and share Your joy in a way that others want to hear. I pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.