For Reading and Meditation:      1 John 4:7-16We turn now to consider another aspect of God's nature and character - love. There are three things told us in Scripture concerning the nature of God. First, "God is spirit" (John 4:24), which means He has no visible substance. Second, "God is light" (1 John 1:5), which means no darkness can dwell in Him. In Scripture darkness stands for sin, death, and so on. Third, "God is love," which means that the energy that flows out from His Being is that of infinite, eternal beneficence. When John wrote the words "God is love" it was no slick statement, as it was the first time in history that the phrase had been used in that way. People had believed that God was love, and had speculated about His benevolence, but now the categorical statement is laid down for all to behold. These words, in my judgment, are the high-water mark of divine revelation; nothing more needs to be said for nothing greater can be said. I often create a mental picture for myself of the angels peering over the battlements of heaven as John wrote those words and then, when they had been written down, I imagine them breaking into rapturous applause and saying to each other: "They've got it. They've got it! At last they see that God is love." And a sigh of deep satisfaction and great joy would have filled the portals of heaven in the knowledge that the greatest truth about God was now made crystal clear. The implied was now inscribed.O Father, I am so thankful that You have demonstrated categorically that the greatest thing about You is love. My heart gladly rests upon that glorious fact. I look forward to exploring it forever. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Jeremiah 31:1-4</li><li>John 3:16</li><li>Romans 5:8</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What did the Lord appear and say?</li><li>How did He demonstrate this?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"God is love." (v. 16)

For Reading and Meditation:      Isaiah 9:1-7We continue meditating on the word "pure" as used by Jesus in His sixth Beatitude. I discovered when researching this theme that the word "catharsis" - meaning to cleanse or make pure - is derived from the same Greek root as the word "pure". In psychology, the word "catharsis" is used to describe the feeling of release and cleansing a person experiences in the presence of a trusted friend or counsellor when they empty out many of their repressed feelings or ideas. In the right circumstances and under the right conditions, a person who does this often feels purged, renewed and released. I have seen this happen myself on countless occasions when counselling. A person comes with deep hurts, and when they are sure they are in the presence of someone who understands them, someone they can trust, they open up their repressed feelings in such a way that afterwards they sit back and say: "I feel so different. It's like someone has reached deep down inside me and scraped my insides clean." What produces this feeling of purging and release? It is difficult to explain because the inner release a person feels is not obtained simply by sharing; it comes only in the atmosphere of mutual confidence and trust. When a counsellor shows signs of disapproval or shock, then no release (catharsis) is experienced. If, as mental health experts claim, this only happens when a counsellor is warm and accepting, as opposed to harsh and judgmental, then it becomes immediately obvious that in the presence of Jesus, the Wonderful Counsellor, we have the possibility of experiencing the deepest catharsis it is possible to know. Blessed Lord Jesus, my Counsellor and my Friend, help me to open up the whole of my being to You so that I might experience a divine catharsis. I long not just to be clean - I long to be wholly clean. For Your own dear Name's sake. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>1 John 1:1-7</li><li>Psalm 65:3</li><li>Ezekiel 36:25</li><li>Zechariah 13:1</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How are we to walk?</li><li>What does this result in?</li></ul></div></div>

"And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor '" (v. 6)

For Reading and Meditation:      Romans 16:1-16A word which the gospel associates with salvation is the word "conversion." Salvation is the offer of divine forgiveness and the gift of eternal life; conversion is the way we enter into that experience and receive the gift. The word "conversion" means to turn about or change one's direction. Though other religions talk about spiritual conversion, the experience they speak of bears no relation whatsoever to the thought in the mind of Jesus when He said: "Except ye be converted ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3 KJV). We divide people into races, classes, sexes, nationalities, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, but Jesus divided men and women into just two classes - the converted and the unconverted. Apparently, to Him no other distinctions mattered. If you are converted, you are in the kingdom; and if you are not converted, you are not in the kingdom. There are no exceptions. Listen to the words once again: "Except ye be converted ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." I think it sad that the NIV translation of the Bible doesn't use the words "except" or "converted" in Matthew 18:3. It simply says: "unless you change and become like little children." The truth is still there, but in my opinion the words used are not as picturesque or as powerful. Conversion can be explained like this: it is the change, gradual or sudden, by which one passes from the kingdom of self to the kingdom of God. And if there is no change, there is no conversion. O God, I am thankful that amidst all the awakenings and new experiences I can enter into in this life, You are eager to give me the supreme awakening - spiritual conversion. May multitudes enter into it today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Isaiah 43:25</li><li>Isaiah 55:7</li><li>Micah 7:18</li><li>1 John 1:1-9</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What does God display toward the unconverted?</li><li>What is the consequence of conversion?</li></ul></div></div>

"Greet ... Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia." (v. 5) 

There are verses in the Bible that seem to assign evil actions to God. For example, when Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, "God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem" Qudg. 9:23). In the days of Ahab, Micaiah said to the wicked king, "The Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets" (1 King 22:23). Job attributed his losses to the Lord when he said, "What? shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10). Then again the Lord Himself says in Isaiah 45:7, "I make peace, and create evil."Yet we know that because God is holy, He can neither originate evil nor condone it. No sin, sickness, suffering or death come from the Lord. He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). It is unthinkable that He should be the cause of anything that is contrary to His own moral perfection.It is clear from other scriptures that Satan is the author of disease, suffering, tragedy and destruction. Job's losses and intense pain were caused by the Devil. Jesus said that the woman who was bent double had been bound by Satan for eighteen long years (Lu. 13:16). Paul spoke of his thorn in the flesh as "the messenger of Satan" (2 Corinthians 12:7). Satan is the culprit behind all the troubles of mankind.But how then do we reconcile this with the verses that picture God as creating evil? The explanation is simply this: in the Bible God is often said to do what He permits to be done. It is the difference between His directive will and His permissive will. He often allows His people to go through experiences that He never would have chosen for them in the first place. He allowed Israel to wander forty years in the wilderness whereas His directive will, if it had been accepted, would have brought them into the Promised Land by a shorter route.Even in permitting the evil of demons and of man, God always has the last word. He overrules it for His own glory and for the blessing of those who are exercised by it.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him." (1 Samuel 16:14)

When we speak of the holiness of God, we mean that He is spiritually and morally perfect in His thoughts, deeds, motives and in every other way. He is absolutely free from sin and defilement. He cannot be anything but pure.The Scriptural testimony to His holiness is abundant. Here are a few examples. "I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). "There is none holy as the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:2). "O Lord my God, mine Holy One… Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:12-13). "God can not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man" (James 1:13). "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5 b). "Thou only art holy" (Revelation 15:4).Even the stars are not pure in His sight (Job 25:5). The priesthood and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament taught, among other things, the holiness of God. They taught that sin had brought distance between God and man, that there must be a go-between to bridge the gap, and that a holy God can be approached only on the basis of the blood of a sacrificial victim.The holiness of God was also demonstrated in a unique way at the Cross. When He looked down and saw His Son bearing our sins, God forsook His Well-beloved for those three terrible hours of darkness.The application of all this to us is clear. The will of God is that we should be holy "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). "As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15).Thoughts of the holiness of God should also produce in us a profound sense of reverence and awe. As He said to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).T. Binney marveled at the holiness required to stand in the presence of God.Eternal light! Eternal light!How pure the soul must beWhen, placed within Thy searching sight,It shrinks not, but with calm delightCan live, and look on Thee.Our hearts overflow with worship when we realize that we have that necessary purity imputed to us through faith in the Lord Jesus.

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8)

1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:6"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you." Everyone has a message from God to announce to men. John had heard Christ speak in human words. Christ had come from the Father, with a message to the world. His message was the announcement of God's love, and of God's desire to save His lost children. Christ delivered His message - He went everywhere and told it. But especially did He announce it to His disciples. For three years they lived with Him and witnessed His works. Then, among the disciples, John had the closest place. He lived near the heart of Jesus all those three years; he leaned on the bosom of Jesus, and heard even His faintest whispers. In a very special way, therefore, had John learned the lesson which Christ had come to announce. He was well prepared to go out and deliver his message.It is the duty of every one of us - to go with our message from God to others. Everyone who lives near Christ must hear the whispered word which he is to repeat. We should be ready to tell our message wherever we go. It should so burn in our heart, that we cannot help telling it - this message of God's wonderful love. A minister once climbed the stairs to a miserable garret to see a sick boy who did not know Christ. Bending over him, he said, "My boy, God loves you - God loves you!" and hurried from the room. The boy was startled by the sudden appearing and vanishing again of the stranger - but he could not forget the message. It crept into his heart and stayed there, and changed all his life. We should deliver our message in burning words in every ear.John's message was, "God is light ." Light stands for everything that is beautiful and good. It is pure - God is holy. "In him is no darkness at all."Light is life-giving. All the life in the world is wooed out and nourished by the light of the sun. A friend asked Tennyson once, "What is Jesus Christ to you?" They were walking in the garden at the time, and, pointing to a rosebush, full of blooming roses, Tennyson said, "What the sun is to this bush - Jesus Christ is to me." As we open our heart and life to Christ, who is the revealing of the love of God, the life-giving influence spreads everywhere, and we grow into whatever things are lovely, whatever things are pure.Again, light reveals, makes manifest. In the darkness of the night we see nothing; but when the sun rises, all the beauty about us is manifested. A man sleeps on a mountain top, and all is blackness about him. The morning dawns, and the glorious splendors of nature burst on his view. One might walk through a great art gallery at night - and he would not behold anything. At length, however, the day breaks, and he finds himself in the midst of the loveliest paintings. They were there before - but were invisible to him before the light revealed them. So the light of God makes all things visible to us."If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness - we lie and do not live by the truth." It is an impossibility to have fellowship with God - if we are walking in darkness. Moral darkness is sinfulness. It is the reverse of light and righteousness. The only way to have fellowship with God - is to be like God, to love what He loves and hate what He hates. If one professes to be God's child, Christ's follower, and meanwhile lives an evil life - it is evident that he is self-deceived, or else is a hypocrite. "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord - and do not obey the things which I say?" asked the Master. Jesus said of His own life, "The Father. .. has not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." The secret of the fellowship of Jesus with the Father - was unfailing obedience. We must do the things that are pleasing to God - if we would have fellowship with Him. There is no way of being nearer to God, and abiding in His love, except by keeping His commandments."But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light - we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." There can be neither fellowship, nor cleansing, unless we walk in the light; that is, unless we are following Christ. Sin has no true fellowship. It may have its compacts and covenants for evil ends. Pilate and Herod were made friends the day Jesus was condemned - but it was only a rope of sand which united them. Their fellowship was only partnership in the darkest crime of the ages. There may be companionship in wrongdoing - but there can be no heart-union. The only real and indissoluble friendship, is that in which both are in friendship with Christ. Christian fellowship is the only union of hearts and lives possible in this world. Thrice sacred is marriage when, both parties kneel together in prayer, sit together at the Lord's table, and unite in love for Christ.Cleansing from sin is likewise dependent upon walking in the light. So long as one continues to walk in the filth of sin, one cannot be made clean. A man must leave the gutter - and walk in dry, clean paths if he would have feet undefiled. There can be no cleansing from sin - while we continue living in sin. It is only the forsaken sin - that is a forgiven sin. It is interesting, too, to note closely the words used here. It is the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses. How can blood cleanse? In a way beyond our understanding, the dying of Christ was the atonement for sin. We are forgiven, because Jesus bore our sin. He was the Lamb of God who bore our sin. "In whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses."The word "cleanses" is present tense, and tells of continuous cleansing. If we are walking in the light our sins are forgiven as soon as they are committed, and we are made clean and kept clean as we travel along earths miry paths."If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." No one can get off on the plea that he has no sin. There is no person who never sins. What, then, can we do, since heaven is only for the pure? Here is the answer: we can have our sins, all our sins, forgiven! God's forgiveness puts away not only the guilt of sin - but the sin itself. Notice that we must confess our sins - if we would have them forgiven. Unconfessed sin - is unforgiven sin. But why must we confess? Does not God know that we are sorry? Why need we tell Him that we are? The blessing lies in our opening our heart to God, in our recognition of our relation to Him, and of His authority over us. Hidden and unconfessed sins - are full of curse! They smoulder like the fires in the heart of a volcano. Sins confessed and put away - have lost their power to hurt the life. "He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy."We ought to try not to sin. "Little children, I write unto you - that you may not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." We ought to live a holy and godly life. But the best of us, with the most diligent care, sin, for we are all weak and human, and surely sometimes fall into unintended sins. Is there any hope for us if we do? Yes! We have an Advocate, One who stands for us before God to plead our cause, to make intercession for us. He has a right to speak for us, for He is holy and sinless. Besides, He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins - He died for us. What, then, should we do when we have stumbled into some sin? Should we despair and give all up, and say there is on use in our trying to go on? No! We should flee at once to our Advocate and beseech Him to plead for us, that we may be forgiven. The Father always hears His intercession. If we would live thus, although we sin many times along the way, our sins shall at once be forgiven, and we shall be restored and ever kept in unbroken fellowship with God.<div class="center-it mtb10">The Scriptures never give us the impression that we can sin with impunity because we are saved by grace, and not by our own good works, or because God is so merciful and forgives so readily. Nothing is taught in the Word of God more clearly - than that faith in Christ always implies surrender to Christ and obedience to His commands. There is no true faith, without obedience. This is made very plain here, "We know that we have come to know Him - if we obey His commands. The man who says, 'I know Him!' but does not do what He commands - is a liar, and the truth is not in him!" 1 John 2:3-4</div>In the ancient cathedral of Lubeck, Germany, there is an old slab, with the following inscription:Thus speaks Christ our Lord to us :  
You call me Master - and obey me not;  
You call me Light - and see me not;  
You call me Way - and walk me not;  
You call me Life - and desire me not;  
You call me Wise - and follow me not;  
You call me Fair - and love me not;  
You call me Rich - and ask me not;  
You call me Eternal - and seek me not; 
You call me Gracious - and trust me not;  
You call me Noble - and serve me not;  
You call me Mighty - and honor me not;  
You call me Just - and fear me not. 
If I condemn you - blame me not!

A unique type of devotional from the writings of James Russell Miller, published between 1908 and 1913.

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

1 John 1:5;1 John 2:6

Sin and Salvation

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Light is transparency; light is clearness; light is absolute purity; light is honesty; light is openness of character. Light hides nothing; its whole action and nature is contrary to hiding anything. It has nothing to hide; it shows everything; it shows all: in other words, it is not deceitful. It does not want to cover anything, or to pretend or make believe that something is other than what it is. Light is single; it is not double; there is no duplicity about light. And light is just - light! There is “no darkness at all” where there is light.... How many shades and aspects of darkness there are! - a whole vocabulary of words. The Spirit has come to bring all that to an end by applying the Cross, in which it was all brought to an end in the Person of the Lord Jesus; to work out the meaning of the Cross in our lives, so that everything that belongs to that kingdom of darkness is removed: so that in the end, with us too, there is no darkness at all. Is that really what we think of, when we think of having, receiving, and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Here again, perhaps, a little re-shaping of our ideas is called for. It is true that He is many other things, as well as light: He is the Spirit of Power, He is the Spirit of Wisdom; yes, He is many other things; but, with them all, He is this. And we must not make more of those “demonstration” aspects of the Spirit, in power, in gifts and capacities, in works, than we do of His character side. If He really does His work in you and in me, He will make us to be people who can bear to be “looked into” without any fear, without any drawing of the blinds. Our lives and our motives will bear looking into.

This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.

Open Windows

The Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Nations - Chapter 5

 The Light of God 

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. § God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. § The Word was God … In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. § If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. § You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. § You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 The entrance of Your words gives light. 

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. § As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. § The Father … has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. § You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Evening Daily Light

 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? 

<h3>神就是光</h3> 5 神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。

约翰一书 1:5

神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。

 5 神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。

新标点和合本（英语：Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation，缩写：CUNP 或 CUVNP）于1988年出版，由联合圣经公会组织圣经学者、翻译顾问和编辑人员，以《和合本》为基础展开修订。《新标点和合本》在用语和文体上基本没有改动[1]。目前香港圣经公会销售的中文圣经，主要也是以《新标点和合本》和《和合本修订版》为主[2]。1988年《新标点和合本》与1919年《和合本》的关系，就像是1769年《钦定版圣经》与1611年《钦定版圣经》，前者更新了拼写与标点，使之和现代一致。


新标点和合本

 神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。

1 John 1:5

神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。

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约翰一书 1:5 CUNPSS

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