My youngest daughter has been the backstage manager in her school plays for several years. It amazes me; the dedication and level of excellence her and the crew have as they make the show run smoothly, so smoothly that the audience doesn’t see them or applauded them. a few weeks ago, they did “The Wizard of Oz” with 18 scene changes (impressive).
Glinda the good witch reminds us that “It’s always best to start at the beginning. And all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road.” How often do you find yourself going back to the beginning so that you don’t lose the footing under your feet?
We are beginning a series in 1 John. John is quick to point us back to the beginning. And while this opening line reminds us of John 1:1, the beginning he is speaking of is your beginning as a follower of Jesus. There is a simplicity to faith that we can complicate and muddle – faith is about what we do. From fellowship to keeping ourselves form idols John is confident that as children of God we are forgiven and empowered to live out God’s love into his world. A world he was willing to die for out of love for us. How much more should we be spurred on in loving rather than hating, selflessness rather than selfishness, service rather than greed, community rather than loneliness. May the God of grace give you the encouragement you need to walk in the light, to live out his new command of love in a world that he was willing to die.