1 JOHN 1:1-10
WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 4 2024
The life appeared; we have seen it
and testify to it. [1 JOHN 1:2]

WHEN LIFE APPEARED
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In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine dominated the
world's attention. As the magnitude of the catastrophe became
apparent, officials scrambled to the critically essential task of
containing the radiation. Lethal gamma rays from highly radioactive
debris kept destroying the robots deployed to clean up the mess.
So they had to use "bio robots"—human beings! Thousands of
heroic individuals became "Chernobyl liquidators," disposing of the
hazardous material in "shifts" of ninety seconds or less. People did
what technology could not, at great personal risk.
Long ago, our rebellion against God introduced a catastrophe
that led to all other catastrophes (see Genesis 3). Through Adam
and Eve, we chose to part ways with our Creator, and we made
our world a toxic mess in the process. We could never clean it
up ourselves.
That's the whole point of Christmas. The apostle John wrote of
Jesus, "The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we
proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has
appeared to us" (1 JOHN 1:2). Then John declared, "The blood of Jesus,
[God's] Son, purifies us from all sin" (V. 7).
Jesus has provided what His creatures could not. As we believe
in Him, He restores us to a right relationship with His Father. He's
liquidated death itself. The life has appeared. ~TIM GUSTAFSON ~NIV®

How might you be trying to clean up your own mess?
How will you give your struggles to Jesus today?

Loving God, thank You for sending Your Son into this world
to clean up our mess.

Learn more here: ODB.org/personal-relationship-with-god.

BIBLE IN A YEAR | EZEKIEL 47-48; 1 JOHN 3

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FOR PERSONAL and FAMILY DEVOTIONS. SINCE 1956
Our Daily Bread
DECEMBER | JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024-2025

EDITORIAL TEAM: Paul Brinkerhoff, Tom Felten, Tim Gustafson, Regie Keller, Becky Knapp, Monica La Rose, and Peggy Willison.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

© 2024 Our Daily Bread Ministries® All rights reserved.
Printed in USA.
VOLUME 69, NUMBERS 9, 10, & 11

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