Light is the opposite of darkness. Light symbolizes all that is good. Darkness all that is evil. Life can look pretty dark these days so Advent invites us to first acknowledge darkness that we might realize how desperately we need light.
Bible
God’s Truth and Love Are Inseparable
I most commonly hear truth and love treated as binary, opposites, or ends of a spectrum. Pastors speak of our tendency to choose one or the other and exhort us to find balance, to hold them in tension. But I'm not satisfied with this. I'm on a quest for clarity.
Abide in Jesus Because His Spirit Abides in Us
Too often I treat my spiritual life like a charging station. I refuel every morning (or at least as often as possible) through a study of the Bible or a devotional reading. But then I act like I’m an electronic device and I unplug, trusting in my fuel to get me through the day. But the Lord Jesus himself has told me to constantly abide in him.
Be Confident in Prayer: Go Ahead and Ask
The apostle John speaks often about confidence, boldness, assurance. He wants believers to know that they know they are in Christ. But he also exhorts us to know that we can come to God with our requests. Because we know that we believe in Jesus and have eternal life, we can approach God confidently.
Recognize the Spirit of Truth vs the Spirit of Falsehood
Because many false teachers abound, the apostle John teaches us how to recognize the spirit of truth versus falsehood.
Love for the World vs. Love for the Father
The Apostle John tells us in his first letter, "Do not love the world" (1 Jn 2:15). One of the biblical definitions for "world" is ornament. In other words, all the shiny stuff that attracts our attention. John calls these things, the lust of the flesh, the longing of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Find the Bible Study Method That Works for You
There are so many tips and methods to help you read and study the Bible. Try them all until you find one that works for you. If Bible study is new to you, start with the book of Mark in the New Testament. Otherwise, pick a portion you haven't read in a long time.
Inductive Bible Study: A Treasured Tool
As a young woman I was taught the inductive Bible study method and it has served me well. I love marking the text, doing word studies, and discovering the main principle. The three components are observation, interpretation, and application.
