As we journey together through Lent, Christians throughout Columbia will be sharing their own beautifully written personal meditations. Each will be accompanied by a corresponding scripture reading, and be linked to that passage in the Holy Bible. If you would like to join us on Columbia’s Lenten journey, please submit your personal meditation by email. Especially meaningful submissions will be printed. Let us continue our Lenten journey, day by day, to its glorious culmination on Easter Sunday.
Scripture reading: John 5:30-47
In these verses, imagine Jesus in a courtroom presenting evidence of His divinity to the Pharisees. He has just finished claiming to be uniquely One with the Father. He is ‘the final and ultimate revelation of God by which we may judge all other revelation.’ Jesus lists witnesses to His claims: Old Testament, John the Baptist, words and works of Jesus Himself, who comes from the Father. He continues to fuel the fire with claims such as, “Your accuser is Moses.” He is accusing the Pharisees of not really believing Moses, who wrote about Jesus. Jesus was not being a gentle lamb at this point!
However, what initially jumped out at me from these verses was that Jesus mentions in passing about John the Baptist. He says, “John was a lamp that burned and gave light.” How did John give light? Among other things, in John 1:34, John the Baptist says about Jesus, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
How can we burn and give light? We all have different ways of accomplishing this. Some of us freely give testimony to others about our faith in Jesus. Others try to live Godly lives and let their actions speak louder than wards. I try continuously to teach our children about the Bible.
How did you give light? In our own ways, let’s all try to burn a little brighter this Lenten season.
Melrose Ott
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Prayer Chain: Friday, March 1
In our prayers: Bonnie Patterson, Mary Ellen Joiner, Elizabeth Jean Emerson, Mary Reames, Richard Smith, Claudia Strattman, Jennifer Williams, Betty Jo Carson, Gary Davis, Eddie Bolton, Doug and Sharon, John Kelchner, Elizabeth Matthews, Nedrick Griffin, Nancy Stuckey, Annemarie Sullivan, Greg and Lisa Steele, Dean Timothy Jones, Linda Langford, Marty Fritz, Harriet Hancock, Tommy and Robby Palmer, Patty and Ted Mac Laughlin, Janet Long, Bobby Wilson, Debbie and Pat Barry, Patrick and Patricia Barry, Charles Sigel, Bob Davis, John Whatley, Nancy Zuckerman, Charles Davis Sr., Bill Carter, Betty Peavy Frick, Joye Cantrell, Dale and Norma Sessions, Padge Arrington, Jerry Callahan, Norman Masters
Special prayers for Mary Ellen’s four-year-old grandson, Joseph Patrick, who is fighting cancer
In memoriam: Jack Louis Haller, Billy Earl Ford, Marianne Adkins Bushardt, Iline M. Washington Corley, Terrie Lynn Ayers, Gertrude Johnson, Barbara Glatz McQuillan, Margaret Byrd Mitchen, Margaret Stafford
Our prayers are with: the elderly, the homeless, all currently fighting illness, all beloved pets, our president and congress, our police officers and firefighters, all who serve in the armed forces
Columbia Prayer Chain is open to all residents of greater Columbia who would like to share prayers and receive the prayers of others. Please leave your name in the comment box or email me.
Comments