Writing it Down

1 John 1:1 That which as from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the “Word of life- 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- 3 that which we have seen, and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

God used a new friend of mine, a brother in Christ with similar testimonies, to a new style of online ministry. He has been writing out the Bible, slowing down for memorization and meditation, and I felt a similar tug. Much of my writing ministry I have always “cut and pasted” my scripture passages into my messages, rarely slowing down to write or type them out myself. With my memory problems, this became a natural transition to help me, and I felt God tugging me into a brief exposition and example, such a way as I have written close to the last 10 years I guess. My “style” of writing is a gift from God, not one to go typically deep, but one of simplistic understanding of scripture, one from an unedjumicated country boy with a heart for Jesus. I searched this morning “write these,” and I was led to 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. I read most of 1 John this morning.

If you look at the first three passages in the above text, John is saying, “I was there. I am a first hand witness to all you have heard about this Jesus Christ. I was with him during so much of his ministry, his miracles, his death and resurrection; I was there.” John could give a first hand account to the power of God through the Son of God to anyone who questioned what they had heard. This was not a time of instant news, of global transparency, of news manipulation, this was a time of stories getting twisted being passed from one person to the other. No story is told the same exact way twice, so the weight of first hand accounts, of witnesses, presents the greatest truths. Can you imagine how powerfully John would have effected people who questioned Jesus; the awe of John’s first hand account would have likely bread great faith that the Bible does not give account of those early disciples God used through John.

John, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, began to write these things down. Just as he says in the above passages, the “why” he wrote these things down. He was writing for our benefit, for a first hand account of the one whom Jesus loved. John had likely the most special relationship with Jesus, one born of great love for one another. I truly believe that was what made John special, his heart of love emulated Christ. When you read any of his writings, the central theme is Jesus and love. We have much to learn from John about both, and their centrality upon one another; you cannot have one without the other.

What could you learn from just these couple passages in 1 John? What about your accounts of Jesus’ work in your life? What about your testimony of when you recognized your need for the salvation only He can provide? Have you ever written down your testimony, or other times you could testify of God working in your life? How else could you remember, and how else could you encourage others to see their need for God? Jesus wants to use you, and it can begin with writing it down.