Living in the Light

David Peterson / General

Enlightened; Holy Spirit; Discipleship; Mother’s Day / John 14:15–21

Introduction

1. The background of mother’s day

I. The Christian Family is based in truth (v. 19, 17)

1. The Christian sees Jesus (v. 19, 21). He is revealed to them, the one who is the principle of reality (the logos)

2. The Spirit is the spirit of reality

What Is Happiness?

Historian Will Durant searched for happiness in study and learning. But he discovered that knowledge alone did not bring happiness.

He tried travel and found only weariness. He tried wealth and found only worry and discord. He sought to immerse himself in his writing but found only fatigue.

Then one day he noticed a woman sitting in a small car clasping a sleeping child in her arms. He watched while a man got off a train and came over and kissed the woman and baby gently, so as not to waken him. As he saw the family drive away together, Durant suddenly realized that what he had just seen was happiness.

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 840). Bible Communications, Inc.

Government can’t solve our ‘loneliness epidemic,’ but we can. It’s easier than you think.

Opinion by Jon Gabriel • 15h ago USA TODAY

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has announced a new epidemic.

This one didn’t escape from a wet market and certainly wasn’t created in a lab. Dr. Murthy has declared “an epidemic of loneliness.”

“Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that’s not right,” Murthy said. “That’s why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.”

Over the past two decades, individual social participation with friends and family has fallen, along with larger-scale community involvement. Fewer people are married and couples have fewer children.

Outside of relatives, Americans are far less likely to join community organizations or show up for religious services. Just 20% attend faith communities on a weekly basis.

According to the report, loneliness leads to higher instances of disease, dementia, stroke, depression and anxiety.

The damage to life expectancy is as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily. All of this adds to higher health costs, loss of worker productivity and declining community cohesion.

II. The Christian Family is sustained in power (v. 18)

1. The gift promised is Spirit, the background of wind and light

A Loving Mother

Charles W. Eliot, Harvard’s esteemed president of yesteryear, was born with a disfiguring birthmark. At first it was most difficult for his mother to accept. All the while, however, she was schooling herself in the art of loving her unattractive child, saying as she met his needs, “He is my son, he is my son.”

With the passing years, Mrs. Eliot had every right to say, and with pride, “He is my son.” One honor after another marked Eliot’s achievements until at last, in 1869, the son of Boston’s mayor was elected president of Harvard University.

What if he had not been loved in his home?

Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (pp. 40–41). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

III. The Christian Family is realized in obedience (v. 15)

1. Obedience begins in faith

2. Continues in life of discipleship

This Mother Prayed 60 Years

Dr. John F. Walvoord, in the chapel of Dallas Theological Seminary, one day told of a mother who prayed for her son for 60 years to be saved. One week before her death, the mother received a long-distance call from her son saying that he was saved.

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 854). Bible Communications, Inc.

Conclusion

Thank God for Mother’s Love

There is no love, like a mother’s love,

no stronger bond on earth…

like the precious bond that comes from God,

to a mother, when she gives birth.

A mother’s love is forever strong,

never changing for all time…

and when her children need her most,

a mother’s love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,

God bless them every one…

for all the tears and heartache,

and for the special work they’ve done.

When her days on earth are over,

a mother’s love lives on…

through many generations,

with God’s blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers,

for they love with a higher love…

from the power God has given,

and the strength from up above.

~ Anon