Dear #DailyFollower,
Introduction
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are taking those steady steps of a daily follower on the journey to becoming more like the Master who called us to follow Him.
Today, I write about some thoughts from my meditation where I asked the Holy Spirit about what the message of Jesus to my generation would be and the response I got started with:
There is more…
More in Me (Christ) than the world has to offer, more in Me than you have seen so far, more in Me than possibilities that abound with the ever-increasing potentials that a constantly advancing world can create. More, more, more…
I am still talking with the Holy Spirit about these different dimensions of more, but I wanted to share three specific mores He has shared with me that are guiding my quest to grow as a daily follower this year.
It might help someone get more intentional in their commitment to dig in and tap into God’s unending flow of more made available to us in Christ.
Here are the three mores…
More #1: More Light
In Christ, there is more light for us; that seemed obvious since Jesus said of Himself in John 8:12, EXB:
12 Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world [the Feast of Shelters included a lamp lighting ritual that Jesus may be alluding to; 7:37–39]. The person who follows me will never ·live [walk] in darkness but will have the light ·that gives life [of life].”
In a world characterised by what we can only describe as increasing darkness (wars, economic stresses and strains, frequent breakdown in law and order, etc.), we need a consistent supply of more light.
His Light to give us:
An increasing flow of the knowledge of God’s glory, 2 Corinthians 4:6, EXB.
Salvation amid trying situations, Psalm 27:1, EXB.
Courage that banishes fear, Psalm 27:1, EXB.
An assurance of divine protection, Psalm 27:1, EXB.
Guidance, Psalm 119:105, EXB.
Direction, Psalm 119:105, EXB.
These are just a few of the operations of more light (we can’t get enough of) that we experience investing time in engaging God this year.
More #2: More Grace
In Christ, there is more grace for us. John testifying about Christ (who John the Baptist testified to be the Light, John 1:6-9, EXB) tells us that out of His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace (John 1:15-17, AMP):
15 John testified [repeatedly] about Him and has cried out [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth], we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favour upon favour, and gift heaped upon gift]. 17 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favour of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In Christ’s Light, we receive doses of the superabundance of His grace and truth, which delivers abundant measures of increasing levels of grace.
Grace upon grace provides us with the empowerment we need to access the operations of the Spirit of Christ (Isaiah 11:1-3, EXB):
The wisdom we need to navigate the complexities of our world today and build lives with meaning and impact.
The understanding we need to process the knowledge we find in God’s Word and draw out valuable insights from the endless stream of information in our days.
The counsel we need to take the proper steps at the correct times, in the right direction, and with the right people to achieve outstanding outcomes.
The power we need to say yes to the right things and no to the wrong things that won’t contribute to advancing our purposes on Earth.
The knowledge we need to gather the information relevant to our lives from God’s Word, creation, life, and the principles that govern our world.
The fear of God we need to love God with all our heart, soul and strength and do as He commands.
With these gifts operating in our lives this year, we have everything we need to take the massive steps toward becoming more like the Light.
More #3: More Love
In Christ, there is more love for us; in this case, it is the more we give, not the more we receive.
For more light and grace, we receive those primarily from God.
However, in the case of more love, we give more love; that’s our primary assignment because we are as God is (as John shows us in 1 John 4:16-17, EXB), and God is love, so we are love.
16 And so we ·know [have come to know] the love that God has for us, and we ·trust [believe; rely on] that love. God is love. Those who ·live [abide; remain] in love ·live [abide; remain] in God, and God ·lives [abides; remains] in them.
17 This is how love ·is made perfect [is made complete; comes to full expression] ·in [or among] us: that we can ·be without fear [have boldness; have confidence; 2:28; 3:21; 5:14] on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him [probably referring to Christ, our example of love].
We are love, so we must give love, first to God and then to others (just as Christ loved us).
Matthew 22:37-40, EXB
37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind [Deuteronomy 6:5].’ 38 This is the first and ·most important [greatest] command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself [Leviticus 19:18].’ 40 All the law and the ·writings of the prophets [prophets] ·depend [are based; hang] on these two commands.”
John 13:34, EXB
34 “I give you a new ·command [commandment]: Love ·each other [one another]. You must love ·each other [one another] as I have loved you.
It’s a year to give more love. We have received much love, and so it’s time to give more love.
There is much more in Christ for us; these three mores are a good place to start as you work with His Spirit to access the many more for you.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.
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