Advent Day 5 – John 3 verses 16 – 21 (Song – How Often?)
Bible Reading John 3 verses 16 – 21
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Opening Prayer
Loving God we thank you that you give us light and hope. We pray that we will always want to stay on your path of love and grace walking boldly in the light which shows us the way.
As we walk your path strengthen us so your light may shine out from us. Through us, make spaces and times where those around us may know you through opportunities we make to share how integral you are in our lives. Amen.
Reflection
The world is in a difficult place at the moment. Climate change and the resulting impacts of it on societies around the world. War and conflict in so many places. Aggressive disagreements about the right answer to these and so many other questions. Do we demand that the health service and schools etc are properly funded? Demanding that the government fix the problems. Only to have a change of heart when some of that money has to come from our own pockets in the form of increased taxes.
Self interest is a terrible source of temptation and for want of a better word sin. Alongside that concentration on self we are, it often seems, by nature fearful and insecure. What is unknown and different is to be ignored or destroyed. We choose to remain in the dark and we choose leaders, where we have a choice, who will help us stay in that comfortable dark place.
God’s call is for us to be in the light and to follow his great commandment to love others as we love ourselves. If we do truly love others we cannot remain in that bubble of self-interest and fear. We have to step out and speak out against injustice and oppression in whatever form we see it.
Today’s passage reassures us that this is what God wants us to do and that the coming of Jesus into the world was a vital part of our being able to connect with God. Put another way he is the source of our salvation.
A time for your own reflection
Read the passage again and spend a little time thinking of how the passage speaks to you. The wonder of scripture is that there is always something new to discover and each passage speaks to us in our own need and circumstances.
Only if you feel you want to – share your thoughts with someone. God inspires our thoughts and you never know, the person you share with may be waiting to hear what you have to say.
Song
Here is the next song –
“How Often?”
Today’s song tries to interpret this passage as we choose to ignore the promises God has made to us. We often think we do not need forgiveness or are not worthy of it. God’s promise is that no matter what we have done or left undone his Grace is sufficient to set it aside and let us start once again with him with a clean slate. Often the burdens we carry are terribly heavy and we can are assured that God will take them from us if we ask him.
A funky pop tune today for a change. If I am honest I forgot to put a style and instrumentation into the a.i. engine and this is what it produced. I quite like it so did not re-generate another version.
Title: How Often?
Words: Chris Hancock
Music: Generated on Suno.com
[Verse 1]
How often do we find ourselves.
Forgetting promises you made,
Stumbling into life’s dead ends,
In the darkness we’re afraid.
[Verse 2]
Will you forgive the things we’ve done?
And start with us once more.
Release our tongues to sing your praise
Let our voices rise and soar
[Chorus]
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
[Verse 4]
Lead, our feet to your side,
Where our burdens we lay down,
Mistakes and guilt you set aside,
Forgiveness in your grace abounds.
[Verse 5]
Almighty one your healing power,
Has filled us with your grace,
Our broken lives they are restored,
Despite the mess we’ve made.
[Chorus]
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
[Bridge]
Lead our feet, to your side,
Where our burdens we lay down,
Mistakes and guilt you set aside,
Forgiveness in your grace abounds.
[Verse 7]
Almighty one your healing power,
Has filled us with your grace,
Our broken lives they are restored,
Despite the mess we’ve made.
[Chorus]
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
Your call goes out,
Come find me once again,
Do not worry what you lack,
My grace will be the same.
Prayer
Loving God, we come before you assured of your great mercy. As we continue our Advent journey we remember that you sent your SOn into the world to save us. To live and teach us to die on the cross to free us from our sins.
Forgive us that we so often forget your promise of mercy which you show us each moment of our lives. Renew in us, once more, the certaintly of forgiveness that we have in Jesus.
Forgive us for all the times we have chosen not to be compassionate and forgiving to others. Continually work in our hearts, transforming us into the people you want us to be? Pour your compassion into our hearts that the light of your grace may reflect from us to those around us today. Guide our feet in the way of justice, mercy and peace. Amen
Copyrights
Reflections and Prayers
By Chris Hancock
Songs
Words of the songs are by Chris Hancock
Music generated on Suno.com
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Bible Readings
Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Images
Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.
