Lent - Day Six - A Light Shines in the Darkness

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025 

**********************************************************

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:12-25

There is something about darkness that creates a universal understanding. In movies, it is used to connect to our emotions of fear, panic, or sadness. It communicates the presence of evil, death or guilt. The Bible reminds us Jesus is the Light of the World, the Great Light shining into darkness. 

Where do you need His light to shine in your life? What relationship, what sin, what hurt, what sorrow, what fear needs Christ to be at work? Today, ask God to be at work in that area of your life. He has "called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

Prayer:

Jesus Christ, as the Light of the World You cast out all darkness. Shine in our lives today. Amen.

Moonlight

An evil man has no hope of escaping the darkness. There is a sword somewhere waiting to kill him. He wanders from place to place, looking for food. But he knows a dark day is coming, which he brought on himself.
Job 15:22-23 ERV

I have much to "chew on" from the Book of Job this day but I'm hard-pressed to find encouraging words to share. So once again I will dole out from the Encouraging Word Bible:
*************************************************
The moon models our role.

What does the moon do? She generates no light. Contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light.

And she’s happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects. Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of bad jokes, you won’t hear ol’ Cheeseface grumble. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth.

What would happen if we accepted our place as Son reflectors?

Suffering, as difficult as it is, needs to be regarded from God’s perspective. He allows certain situations in our lives for reasons beyond our understanding. Our job is to continue to reflect His life—even through our suffering...

*************************************************

Prayer:

Father,

           Give us eyes to see from Your perspective. We pray for understanding. And if we don't get a full understanding, please never let us go. Let our faith and trust grow in You in such a way that we completely understand that You are God and we are not. And let us be at peace with it, knowing that nothing touches our lives without Your purpose. Light us up, Father, to make us a reflection of You.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Different Perspective

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The Apostle Paul had a different perspective on life than most people. Instead of a bird's eye view, he had a God's eye view. 

Paul was a man who understood suffering and the benefit of it. Yes, the benefit of it! He realized that the results of suffering and hardship wrought a much greater reward of Christ-like character in us when we trust God through it all. Not the least of which are compassion, patience, and understanding. These are things for which we should be grateful. 

James 1:2-4 NLT reads,  "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance [patience] is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Any opportunity to grow in the Lord is cause for "great joy".  Every time our faith is tested, our "endurance has a chance to grow". So, we can focus on the problems, the issues, the tests, the trials, the suffering... or we can have a different perspective. A God's eye view.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to not look at the troubles we can see now; but rather, to fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. Help us to see things through the Truth and Light of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

That Time has Come

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

Paul prophesied that the time would come when the world would reject truth. Isaiah prophesied the same thing about 700 years before Paul. "These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!' " Isaiah 30: 9-11 NIV 

One has only to listen to the rhetoric being spewed in today's world to know that the time has come. 

Do not be discouraged! We who are believers possess the irrefutable Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 NKJV.

Do not be discouraged! The darker the night, the brighter the Light shines. Strike a match in the darkest of nights and you will see its light. We must let His Light and Love shine through us into the darkness so those who are lost and without Christ can see to find their way to Him. Light ALWAYS overcomes darkness. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Truth which never changes to fit societal norms. You are always the same - yesterday, today and forever - according to Your Word. We are forever grateful for Your faithfulness. Let Your Light shine through us. Give us Your right words to say at Your right time to make the most impact to change a soul's eternal destination. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who Walked Where

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:6-7 NLT

Life is often overwhelming and wearisome. Left to our own strength, we would be done in, except for God... He has promised us His strength. He has promised us His protection and the joy of His salvation!

However, we must DAILY CHOOSE to walk with Him. The Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is not One to be put to the side and picked up when we are in crisis mode. The Truth is if we daily seek His presence, we won't get into crisis mode. If we find ourselves in darkness, it was not God who walked away.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for the times we think we can do life in our own strength. We cannot. Help us to walk in humility and in faith, daily trusting You. Reveal the Light of Your Truth in Your Word to guide our steps. Be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path, In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lost Focus

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 KJV

We talked yesterday about Spring season in Texas. While it is my favorite, I noticed today it's also very dust and pollen-laden. No, we don't have to scrape ice off our windshields in season, but we need strong wipers to be able to clean the junk off so we can see clearly.

It made me think of how easy it is to get caught up in the day-to-day of life and lose our focus. A little dusting of irritation, piling on of political mayhem, fighting the allergens of this crisis and that one, the weariness of our workload, and before we know it we've lost focus. It seems like we can't see daylight... at least not clearly.

The Good News is that Jesus is the Morning Star. He is the Light of the World. In Isaiah 9:2 NKJV, the prophet tells us regarding Jesus' coming to Earth, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. 

How do we receive the Light of the World? By knowing His Word. Psalm 119:130 reads The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. Light is essential to life. 

Prayer:

Father,

         Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. Let me never lose the focus of Your light and love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day Thirty-One - Light Shining in Darkness

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024 

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 

John 12:46

Our readings are nearing the end of Jesus’ public ministry. His message remains consistent: he has come to save the world, to bring all people out of darkness into his saving light. Yet not all receive this. Some saw signs and refused to believe, so God’s word sealed them in their rejection. Others believed but with a secret faith that would not confess Christ publicly. They seem to love the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Why does faith make its way into the lives of some but not others? Honest reflection shows that we are just as sinful as unbelievers. So why has faith taken root in us? Searching our own hearts, we find that we also seek and crave the praise of others. But we rarely consider that our desires may be at odds with seeking the praise of God.

This short section of Scripture demonstrates how precious and mysterious the gift of faith really is. The Holy Spirit calls us with the gospel to receive God’s grace in humility. God’s word reminds us to consider how needless the praise of people is when, in Christ, we have already received praise and glory from God himself.

Finally, we are encouraged to lives of persistence as we talk with those who do not yet believe, because his light still shines and rescues from darkness.

Prayer: 

Gracious Savior,

                        I sin against You daily and am prone to wander from Your grace. Forgive me. Remove all doubt and unbelief from my heart. Strengthen me to humbly shine the light of Your Gospel. Amen.

Reading Further - John 12:37-50

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Lent - Day Twenty-Three - From Blindness to Sight

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 

John 9:24-27

Our Lord opens blind eyes. His intervention to restore sight to the blind man in today’s reading is miraculous. However, it is just as miraculous that God grants eyes of faith so that we may believe in Christ as Lord. We learn this from the response of the Pharisees who thought that they saw spiritual things perfectly, but could not see their need for a savior. They were blind to their own sin and unwilling to see God’s way of salvation in Jesus Christ. Their refusal to repent kept them in darkness and guilt.

We are conceived and born in that same darkness. But by an act of God, we are delivered from darkness into his marvelous light. While Christ has given us sight and brought us into the light, our sinful flesh still desires the darkness. Like scales slowly growing over our eyes, sin attempts to dim our sight with pride, self-righteousness, impatience, selfishness, or any number of things. Perhaps John was recalling the events of Jesus and the blind man when he wrote these words in his first Epistle: If we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9) God is light. Through him, we see.

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, 

              Thank You for giving me eyes of faith with which to clearly see my sin as well as Your saving grace. [Yes, I want to be Your disciple] By Your grace, help me to fix my eyes on You as the Author and Finisher of my faith. Amen.

Further Reading - John 9:24-41

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."

Lent - Day Twenty - Light

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

At first glance, Jesus calling himself the light of the world seems to come out of the blue, but it actually fits very well into the context of this reading. The people are still in the middle of the festival celebrations. At the temple, in the court of women, stood giant candelabras that were approximately 75 feet tall. They were so tall and the light so great that when they were lit each night they would shine for all in the city to see. The light recalled the presence of God who guided Israel by a pillar of fire at night. In this light, the people would sing, dance and rejoice, looking forward to the Messiah who was to come.

There in the temple, in the court of women, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” He goes even further by pointing to Old Testament Scriptures that specifically referenced light in the context of the coming Messiah. Jesus is our light, the one who comes from the Father. He shines into the darkness of this world and our lives in order to illuminate us with the hope that brings great rejoicing, dancing, and singing. The God who dwells in unapproachable light has come into the world. “In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God.” 1

Prayer: 

Lord, 

        Cast Your bright light upon my life that I may walk in the light of Your truth, and, in the end, be brought into the light of everlasting life. Amen.

1 Refrain from the hymn “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” Kathleen Thomerson, 1970.

Reading Further - John 8:12-30 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Still Called Today

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:12-13 NASB

There are times in life when day after day, it seems like we just can't get away from the ugly side of life. That seems to come in seasons, and lately, it seems to be a long season - one of disaster, disappointment, destruction, and death, no matter where you are. Sometimes it happens subtly - in the day-to-day of life. Other times, it happens overwhelmingly, day after day, with no relief in sight. It's in those times - in the day after day of it that the number one question I hear is, "Where is God in all this?"

Satan would like nothing better than to convince you that God isn't there for you, that He wasn't there for you, that He won't be there for you. How do we deal with that?

If we try to fight those lies on our own, more than likely, we'll end up in some deception. The Truth is that bad things are going to happen in life. Jesus warned us that they would. John 16:33, NASB These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  So, we need to come together and encourage each other day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” Because the Word of God also promises that He will take what satan meant for bad and turn it around for our good. 

Dear Ones, there IS good. Look for it. Remember, we find what we are looking for - good or bad. Let's shine the light of Truth, share the Light of His Truth, help each other, and encourage one another, while it's still called today.

Prayer:

Father,
           Keep us ever mindful of the Light of the World. Help us to properly hold the Light so others may see You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Blocking the Light

Restore us, Lord, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:19 CSB

I don't like working without the proper light. It doesn't matter what I'm trying to do - read, write, clean, paint, stitch, or even just to gather my thoughts - don't block the light. However, have you ever noticed how easy it is for the slightest thing to get in the way and cast a shadow to impede your progress? And that the more light you need, the closer you need to be to the source? 

Such is life on a much grander scale, as well. What blocks the light from the Father? What gets in the way? Why do we not reflect His light for all the world to see? Well, for sure when we turn our face away from His. The things we let take precedence over time spent with Him. Choosing to believe the facts of what we see with our eyes more than the Truth of what we read in His Word. When what we see as little things become the sins that block God's favor from our lives. Selah...

Prayer:

Father,

           Shine Your light of Truth on our lives. Reveal the stealers of light in our lives. Draw us close - so close - to You, Lord, that we may see clearly. Forgive us for our part in allowing satan and his minions to block Your light on us. Restore us, Lord, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Adulting

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT

Have you seen any of the memes on Facebook that read they're "done adulting" for whatever reason and want to go back to whatever they don't want to take responsibility for? I hate to break it to them, as Christians, we're called to grow up, to be mature (vs 13), and to live up to the standard set by Christ. 

How do we do that?

Always be humble and gentle 

Be patient with each other

Making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love 

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit

Binding yourselves together with peace

God knows it takes an adult attitude to accomplish these, but more than that, it takes the grace that was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift (vs.7). The Lord knows what is needed for us to grow up into the fullness of Christ. 

Do we?

Prayer:

Father,

           Sometimes we go for the laugh and that's okay as long as we don't compromise Truth. Forgive us, please, when we're not maturing in our relationship with You for that is no laughing matter. Help us to see and also know that only in You is there fullness of true JOY. Help us to know the delight of life that comes with being in right relationship with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Work Hard

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:12c-13 NLT

That statement - Work hard to show the results of your salvation - is NOT about having to do works to earn our salvation. Our hard work is walking in obedience. Yes, God gives us the desire and power to be able to do what pleases Him, but we still have to work hard to bring our bodies into submission to His will and ways and not our own will and ways.

Paul continues: Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.  We are not the light, but rather we live our lives so that we can be the reflection of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. As the world becomes darker in its sin and greed, God's light will shine brighter. Let us work hard to make sure there is nothing in our lives that will get in the way of reflecting Christ to those around us.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the desire and power to do what pleases You. Give us Your strength so that we can walk pure before You, doing all without complaining and arguing. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

From Now Until Easter - A Song Rises

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Rev. Melody Meeter - the director of the spiritual care department at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn.

******************************************

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning -Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6 NKJV

Down there in the pit, the psalmist is in despair, not only about his own iniquities, his weaknesses, his sins of omission and commission, but also about the iniquities of his people Israel. The individual sins are entwined with the sins of the nation. But it is also down there in the pit the psalmist remembers something else: “ … there is forgiveness with you,” and “with the Lord there is steadfast love,” and “with him is great power to redeem.” 

There is hope in the waiting for God’s redemption. Twice the psalmist repeats the phrase “my soul waits” and twice repeats the image of the soul waiting for the Lord “more than those who watch for the morning.”

As a chaplain, I get to wait for a little while with souls that are waiting for God to show up. It’s really dark down there. But in the very act of crying out, sometimes a light surprises—a healing, a surrender, a peace, a hope. The song rises.

Prayer:

Dear God,
                Grant us to see Your light though we may be in the depths. Grant us to feel Your steadfast love though we may feel unlovable. And grant us companions with us to wait for You in hope. Amen.

From Now Until Easter - Light Shines

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Sarah Coleman, an Australian author and pastor.
**********************************

Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Micah 7:8 NLT

Everyone has dark days. Days of extreme stress. Days of abandonment. Days of verbal and emotional battery. Days of mockery and humiliation. Days of what may feel like a crucifixion. Days of pain. Days of death. 

Jesus had one of those days.

And like most of us when we have one of those days, He finished His day in a dark place. A place of nightmares.

When most people go to a dark place they are confronted by demons and voices. An overwhelming trap of hatred, violence and dread. Depression, anger and emptiness. Jesus faced it, too... For Jesus, it wasn't just His demons, but all the demons in hell. Every single demon taunted and ridiculed Him with hideous slander and unthinkable perversion.

The darkest of dark places. But here is what the devil did not count on - what he never saw coming. 

He thought the darkness won. It did not. And it never will.

Darkness struck. But Light struck back.

John 1:5 tells us, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Never.Extinguish.The Light.

Jesus overcame darkness.

So can we.

Prayer:

Lord,

         In the dark seasons of my life, shine Your light. When I am doubting, remind me of who You are. When I am weary, bring me peace. When I am restless, may I find my rest in You. You are the victory-- hallelujah! Amen

In the Dark

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NKJV

I hate getting up in the middle of the night without a light. I've whacked my foot against the furniture so many times, my little toe is in a permanent "tuck or duck" position! How about when the electricity goes off during a storm and we're groping around for a flashlight or candles? Why is it we always want light more so when we can't get it? Is it that we take it for granted until it's gone?

It is written in 1st John 1:6-7 NLT, So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  

With that, why would anyone choose to continue to walk in darkness when they can have the Light of Life? Why would anyone choose an eternity where they will be cast into outer darkness - where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). 

Do we think we have forever to make the choice to follow Jesus? Do we take for granted His mercy and grace and patience?  Peter wrote,  But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Prayer:

Father,
         We want to live in the light, as You are in the light. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to help others see and understand that if we follow You, our steps will be sure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Advent - Day 25 - Shadows

I have chosen a different devotional for the remainder of Advent. It is rich.

It is titled "Every Good Gift" and is written fully by Compassion Canada
**************************************************************

Our verse this week contains a juxtaposition. Do you know what it is? Hint: we touched on it in yesterday’s reflection on light.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, emphasis added)

James contrasts heavenly lights and shifting shadows. Yesterday, we looked at how God is light and how that light shines His love into the darkness of our world. Today, we are going to travel to the other side of this tension and consider what James means when he comments that God “…does not change like shifting shadows.”

Shifting shadows is an obvious comparison to heavenly lights. We can all understand the contrast between light and darkness. Less obvious but implicit in this turn of phrase, is the element of faithfulness in contrast with unreliability. God is faithful and does not change as the shadows do. If God is light, then He is always light with no darkness in Him. (1 John 1:5) He is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We can trust that His gifts will always be good and perfect because His love never changes.

This teaches us an important lesson about love. Love does not come and go like shifting shadows, it remains constant and faithful. It is a light that does not change with shifting shadows of a world that is unstable and insecure. It is something others can rely on.

Prayer:

Father, 

           You are faithful in Your love to me. Constant and never changing, I can rely on Your love and trust Your good gifts. The world around me may shift like shadows, but You stand in contrast to the world. Today, I ask that You will show me how to love others in the same faithful way that I might reflect Your character and goodness to a chaotic and turbulent world. Amen.

Advent - Day 24 - Light

I have chosen a different devotional for the remainder of Advent. It is rich.
It is titled "Every Good Gift" and is written fully by Compassion Canada
**************************************************************

For many, Christmas lights are a favourite part of the holiday season. Twinkling lights in frosted windows, the warm glow of the Christmas tree in the corner, favourite holiday candles flickering merrily and streets aglow with rows of cheerful strings of lights. It is a hallmark of the season. Light is an important part of Christmas.

Light is an important part of God, too. We see that all throughout Scripture. In fact, we can see it in our verse for this week:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

If we are honest, so many people’s lives are like the shifting shadows like James describes. Our world feels unstable, unsteady and dark. Things change. People change. Hope, joy and peace are lost in the darkness of a world without God.

But, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

Jesus told us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, emphasis added)

God is light and love. Advent reminds us of this. God gave us His Son because He loves us and Jesus is the light of the world that overcomes the darkness. It is because of God’s love that He shines His light in our lives, giving us good gifts such as hope, peace and joy. It is love that shines the light of God into people’s lives.

“Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble” (1 John 2:8-11, emphasis added)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11, emphasis added)

Love lights up the darkness. And in a season where we are surrounded by the warmth of Christmas lights, may we choose to shine the heavenly light of our Father who has shown us how to love through giving good gifts.

Prayer:

Father of heavenly lights, 

                 As I look around in this season, I am surrounded by the beauty of light. Let the lights in my home, in the streets and places I go remind me to love others like You have loved me. Your love is one that dispels darkness and brings the good gifts of hope, peace and joy into our lives. May I reflect Your heart in the gifts I give and the light I shine this Christmas. Amen.

Let There Be Light

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NLT

The following was written by my dear friend, David Jackson.

God’s first recorded words in Scripture illuminated His new creation with light. This is not the light of the sun, which was not created till the fourth day. This initial illumination is apparently the glory of God, that brilliant evidence of His presence from which man retreated in his fallen state, having degenerated to a point where he loved darkness more than the light (John 3.19). 

It is this glory of God that will illuminate the new creation once it has been delivered from the evil and injustice of a dark, fallen world (Revelation 22.5). It is this glory that is captured in the very person of Jesus Christ. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4.6 NLT). Jesus is the Light of the world, that “true Light that gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1.9).

Jesus’ first coming illuminated the path for entering the kingdom of God. His second coming will be “a glorious appearing” that establishes that heavenly kingdom on earth (Titus 2.13-14). It will be a moment when the prevailing evil that has smothered the world in gross darkness for so long will be “destroyed by the brightness of His coming“ (2 Thessalonians 2.8). On that great Day when every eye shall be overwhelmed by a brilliance greater than the sun shining at peak strength, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He alone is the true Light of the World. 

In the light of that moment, all the world will be of one mind, agreeing together that Jesus alone illumines the Way to the Father; He alone disperses the darkness that has been attempting to conceal the Truth; He alone can ignite our soul with new Life. That glorious appearing is not far away. Today is the day of preparation for that day.

Dear Jesus,
                  Shine Your Light on us! Illumine our souls with Your very presence. Illumine our path with Your Word that we might know “the way wherein we should walk.” And light up our hearts and minds with a sense of urgency so that we may prepare ourselves for Your soon glorious return. Amen

Receive the Gift

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
Proverbs 14:30 NLT

The Word tells us that Christ came so that we would have life and it more abundantly. What good is life if it's not peaceful? How healthy can we be physically or spiritually if we're in constant turmoil? At the very least, our blood pressure will be high. There'll be all kinds of wear and tear on our physical bodies if we are not abiding in God's gift.

Jesus tells us in John 14:27 NLT, I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Receive the gift of peace. Receive the gift of health.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the many, many gifts You have bestowed on and in our lives. Thank You most of all for salvation so that we can be made right with You, and secondly, for Your peace that passes ALL understanding. We want to follow in Your footsteps because Your way is life and light. Help us to help others see You for who You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen