Walking in the Light: Lessons from Fanny Crosby
Summary
Living on the Rock, Walking in the Light
Today, we explored the profound journey of walking in the light of Christ, inspired by the life of Fanny Crosby, a remarkable hymn writer who, despite her blindness, illuminated the world with her faith and music. Her story exemplifies how true spiritual sight transcends physical limitations, as she embraced her blindness as a divine gift that allowed her to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal. Her life challenges us to consider how often we let the distractions of the world divert us from our devotion to God.
We delved into Ephesians 5:1-10, where Paul calls us to be imitators of God, walking in love and purity. This passage reminds us that salvation is not merely a one-time event but the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship and sanctification. True faith requires active participation in becoming more like Christ, a process that involves imitating His sacrificial love and striving for holiness in our daily conduct.
We also discussed the importance of purity, both in our actions and our speech. Paul warns against sins of the eyes and tongue, urging us to avoid fornication, covetousness, and coarse jesting. These sins stem from uncontrolled appetites and distract us from the abundance of God's grace. Instead, we are called to focus on the sacrificial love of Christ, which is a sweet-smelling aroma to God.
Furthermore, we examined the dangers of idolatry, which arises from impatience and the desire to create our own version of God's kingdom on earth. Idolatry occurs when we prioritize our desires over God's will, using Him as a tool rather than worshiping Him as our Creator. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from our lives, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to Christ.
Finally, we are encouraged to be wise in our interactions with the world, maintaining friendships with unbelievers while avoiding participation in their sinful lifestyles. By walking in the light of Christ, we become beacons of His love and truth, shining brightly in a world shrouded in darkness.
Key Takeaways:
- Fanny Crosby's life teaches us that true spiritual sight is not hindered by physical limitations. Her unwavering faith and gratitude for her blindness remind us to focus on the eternal rather than the distractions of the world. [03:25]
- Salvation is the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship and sanctification. True faith requires active participation in becoming more like Christ, as we strive to imitate His sacrificial love and holiness. [09:02]
- Purity in actions and speech is essential for walking in the light. We must guard against sins of the eyes and tongue, focusing instead on the sacrificial love of Christ, which is pleasing to God. [16:35]
- Idolatry arises from impatience and the desire to create our own version of God's kingdom. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from our lives, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to Christ. [27:34]
- We are called to be wise in our interactions with the world, maintaining friendships with unbelievers while avoiding participation in their sinful lifestyles. By walking in the light of Christ, we become beacons of His love and truth. [32:08]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - Fanny Crosby's Inspiring Life
[03:25] - Spiritual Sight Beyond Physical Limitations
[05:00] - Hymns of Faith and Assurance
[06:31] - Walking in the Light: Ephesians 5
[07:41] - The Importance of Salvation and Discipleship
[09:02] - Sanctification: A Lifelong Journey
[10:35] - Be Imitators of God
[11:49] - The Dangers of Bitterness
[13:17] - True Love: Sacrificial, Not Superficial
[14:53] - The Sweet Aroma of Sacrifice
[16:35] - Pursuing Purity in Actions and Speech
[18:21] - The Temptation of Abundance and Lack
[19:48] - The Shame of Sin and God's Redemption
[21:24] - Forgiveness and Victory in Christ
[23:07] - The Power of Words: Encouragement and Caution
[24:37] - Taking the Lord's Name in Vain
[25:59] - The Significance of God's Name
[27:34] - Idolatry: Worshiping Tools, Using God
[29:12] - Evaluating Idols in Our Lives
[30:47] - The Sons of Disobedience
[32:08] - Being Wise in the World
[33:54] - Light Overcomes Darkness
[35:06] - Jesus: Our Lifeline and Light
[36:32] - Invitation to Walk in the Light
[38:10] - Closing Prayer and Challenge
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living on the Rock, Walking in the Light
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:1-10
Observation Questions:
1. How does Fanny Crosby's life illustrate the concept of "walking in the light" despite physical blindness? [03:25]
2. What specific behaviors does Paul warn against in Ephesians 5:3-4, and why are they considered incompatible with walking in the light?
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the "sweet-smelling aroma" mentioned in Ephesians 5:2? [14:53]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between idolatry and impatience? [27:34]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be an "imitator of God" as described in Ephesians 5:1, and how does this relate to the concept of discipleship? [10:35]
2. How does the sermon explain the connection between sins of the eyes and sins of the tongue, and what impact do they have on a believer's life? [16:35]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can maintain friendships with unbelievers without partaking in their sinful lifestyles? [32:08]
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of light in overcoming darkness, and what practical steps are suggested for believers to walk in the light? [33:54]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on Fanny Crosby's perspective on her blindness. Are there any challenges in your life that you can view as opportunities to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal? [03:25]
2. Consider the concept of sacrificial love as described in the sermon. How can you demonstrate this type of love in a specific relationship or situation this week? [13:17]
3. Identify any "idols" in your life that may be diverting your focus from God. What steps can you take to remove or reduce their influence? [27:34]
4. Think about your interactions with unbelievers. How can you be a light in their lives while maintaining your commitment to Christ's teachings? [32:08]
5. Evaluate your speech and actions over the past week. Are there areas where you need to pursue greater purity? What changes can you make to align more closely with the teachings in Ephesians 5:3-4? [16:35]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on discipleship and sanctification. What is one practical step you can take this week to grow in your faith and become more like Christ? [09:02]
7. How can you incorporate regular Bible reading into your routine to ensure you are consistently walking in the light of Christ? [07:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Sight Beyond Physical Limitations
Fanny Crosby's life is a testament to the power of spiritual sight that transcends physical limitations. Despite her blindness, she embraced her condition as a divine gift, allowing her to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal. Her unwavering faith and gratitude for her blindness challenge us to consider how often we let the distractions of the world divert us from our devotion to God. By focusing on the eternal, we can find true spiritual sight and live a life illuminated by faith. [03:25]
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one distraction in your life that you can set aside today to focus more on the eternal truths of God?
Day 2: The Journey of Discipleship and Sanctification
Salvation is not merely a one-time event but the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship and sanctification. True faith requires active participation in becoming more like Christ, as we strive to imitate His sacrificial love and holiness. This journey involves a continuous process of growth and transformation, where we are called to walk in love and purity, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily lives. [09:02]
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can actively work on becoming more like Christ today?
Day 3: Pursuing Purity in Actions and Speech
Purity in actions and speech is essential for walking in the light of Christ. Paul warns against sins of the eyes and tongue, urging us to avoid fornication, covetousness, and coarse jesting. These sins stem from uncontrolled appetites and distract us from the abundance of God's grace. Instead, we are called to focus on the sacrificial love of Christ, which is pleasing to God. By pursuing purity, we align our lives with God's will and become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him. [16:35]
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a specific habit or pattern of speech you need to change to better reflect Christ's love and purity?
Day 4: Identifying and Removing Idols
Idolatry arises from impatience and the desire to create our own version of God's kingdom on earth. It occurs when we prioritize our desires over God's will, using Him as a tool rather than worshiping Him as our Creator. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from our lives, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to Christ. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and live a life of true worship. [27:34]
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one potential idol in your life that you need to address and remove to ensure your actions reflect your commitment to Christ?
Day 5: Being Wise in the World
We are called to be wise in our interactions with the world, maintaining friendships with unbelievers while avoiding participation in their sinful lifestyles. By walking in the light of Christ, we become beacons of His love and truth, shining brightly in a world shrouded in darkness. This requires discernment and wisdom, as we navigate our relationships and influence others for Christ. [32:08]
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you be a beacon of Christ's love and truth in your interactions with others today, especially those who do not share your faith?
Quotes
1) "Salvation matters. I want to clear up a misconception that some people in the Christian faith have. They think that as long as I pray that prayer to accept Jesus Christ, then that's all I have to do. And yes, that is all you have to do to become saved. That's all you have to do is just believe that Jesus died on the cross. That's all you have to do to become saved. That's for your sins that he rose from the dead. That's all you have to do. But that's just the beginning, friends. That's not the end of our life as Christians. It's not just a one and done proposition." [07:41] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We don't automatically know how to be holy just because we've accepted Christ as our savior. We have to work at being holy. The process is called sanctification. We are never finished with it on this earth. Sanctification is one of those theological words that basically means becoming more like Christ as we move along in our life. You see, discipleship is the curriculum for sanctification. In other words, we have to work at being holy. We learn how to act like Christ through discipleship." [09:02] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "To walk in light, we need to imitate the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, not the easy come, easy go love of the world. Your salvation was purchased at a tremendous price. It's time we start acting like it. We need to follow the sacrificial loving, loving system that Christ gave to us on the cross. So the first thing we need to do to walk in the light is be an imitator of Christ. The next step is that we must be pure, be pure." [14:53] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "When we accepted Christ, we entered God's kingdom, but we are still waiting for the full revelation of his kingdom to come. In the meantime, we wait here on this earth and see a dim reflection of his kingdom. Idolatry happens when we give ourselves what we think is God's kingdom here on earth because we aren't willing to wait for it in heaven. This happened to the Israelites when Moses was on Mount Sinai and they made an idol out of, made out of gold, a calf. And they worshiped that because they weren't willing to wait. They had impatience." [27:34] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them. So right off the heels of Paul encouraging us to be pure, he brings up the sons of disobedience. Now you might be wondering, what is he talking about here? Let's look. What he said back in Ephesians two, verse one. And you, he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sin. That's us. In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." [30:47] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Light has a quality that sets it apart from everything else. It always overcomes darkness. Light always overcomes darkness. I want to tell you a story. When I was a teenager, my dad and I liked to go scuba diving and we had this little inflatable boat that had an engine on it. And we would go out in the ocean and we'd go scuba diving. This one time we went scuba diving and it was at night. It was a night dive. So you prepare yourself with underwater flashlights so you can see. And the beauty of night diving is that the fish are sleeping. You can literally go right up to a fish and touch it because it's sleeping. It doesn't know you're there." [33:54] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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