1 John 1

Observations:
v1-3) Points out that the things about to be written are firsthand encounters. v1"what we have looked at and touched with our hands" v2) "what we have seen and testify and proclaim" v3) "what we have seen and heard we proclaim"... SO THAT YOU may have fellowship with us! Police and reporters only want first hand encounters of what happened at the scene. Those are the "stories" one can trust or base a judgement about.

v4) "These things we write so that our joy may be made complete". somehow the joy of Christ in us is not complete until we tell others about it. True joy brings forth a desire to share... think back to you engagement or when you knew the other person was "the one".... your joy was made complete by sharing it and the more you shared it the more your joy grew.

v5-6) Light and darkness can not coexist. darkness is simply the absence of light. If we say the we carry a flaming torch and YET walk in darkness... then we lie and do not practice the truth. Practice here means: "condition arrived at by experience" it is an action word.

v7) "but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."   ONLY if we walk in the light does the blood of Jesus cleanse us. If we continue to walk in darkness and only SAY that we walk with Him ,His blood does not cover us... it can't.  The thief on the cross is the quintessential example of saved by grace and not by works.... BUT I wonder if there were no "works" because of the timing. The thief could not perform any works. The rich young ruler comes under the same knowledge that the thief did and  yet there was no conversion....

v8-10) When we confess our sins not only does Christ forgive us.... but He also v9) "cleanse us from all unrighteousness." cleanse means to become clean or to remove by cleaning. Only if we confess our sins are they forgiven and cleansed.



Application:
v1-3) What have we seen or touched? How real is this Jesus.... does it surprise us that people don't want to hear about Him if all we offer is Bible thumping.

v4) Who have we told about Jesus and what He has done in our lives? Is it that we do not think He has done anything or that we are scared...... do we realize our Joy and it's completeness depends on us sharing?

v5-7) If God is truly in us. if His Holy Spirit dwells in us, then there is no darkness... light emanates from us. If we merely carry Jesus.. then there are parts of us that are dark. There is a shadow. Do I have shadows? I know that I do... what are the areas in my life that I do not  allow God. What will I does this week to change that.


v8-10) Think of a time when you confessed a sin before God and you knew that not only had He forgiven you BUT He had also cleansed you.

Prayer:
Lod, today help me to look and see how to apply your Word. Show me people that need to hear of You. Whisper the words into my ear. Use me. Cast out all of my darkness so that Your light may shine. 

Matthew 1

Observation:
v18-25: Joseph's thoughts, after finding out that his fiancee was pregnant was atypical compared to today's man. Today's man would out her on social media and start an all out disgracing campaign about "How could she do this to me?". But Joseph was a righteous man and thought to send her away "quietly". God had other plans. God sends His angel to deliver a message. Joseph wakes up and "did as the angel of the Lord commanded him..."

Application:
Righteous men have angels sent to them and DO what they are commanded.
Jesus was a gift of God not born of a man's will over a woman, but part of GOd's plan from the beginning of time. Adoption places babies into families where they are not the result of the parents physical will or action. These babies are also gifts from God. Joseph adopted Jesus and treats him as if he were his own.


Prayer:
Lord, Help me to treat all of my children as though they are precious gifts from you and send your Holy Spirit to help me "do as you have commanded".



Define:
1. Righteous: characterized by uprightness or morality, morally right or justifiable.