22010.005 Embracing the Light!

“In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” —John 1:4–5

Life effervescent; life overflowing; life enlivened, inspired, encouraged; life burning with passion, enthusiasm and zeal. Life found with Jesus; life held out to those who choose to follow after Jesus. Not too dissimilar to King David’s plea in Psalm 34, we find in verse four of our verses for today the Apostle John dangling this carrot before our eyes in his great desire for us to trust in Jesus—both for God’s glory and for our good. King David encourages us with these words:

“Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!” —Psalm 34:8

Those who belong to Jesus are offered abundant life and are given His light within to shine forth in the darkness to a lost and needy world. Jesus transforms us from the inside out, little by little, more and more, until we “… shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15–16).

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus also said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

The false shepherd, the deceiver of men, the thief and killer of souls comes only to destroy, decimate, demolish, and ravage. Conversely, Jesus comes to give us life and to satisfy us with His pleasing and perfect will. He comes to give us more! It is a lie from the pit of hell that Jesus is holding out on us; that He wants to make us miserable and squirm and suffer needlessly; that His way for us is somehow boring, unfulfilling, and unsatisfying compared to what the world entices us with our eyes.

Have you ever followed your own desires and experienced the death that comes from that pursuit? The death of a relationship, the death of trust, the death of character, the death of love—and on and on it goes. If we would only think through our poor choices and actions to the end result and consequences, I doubt seriously very many of us would continue down that path.

“We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences. If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.” —John Newton

Defeated Christians are rampant. Defeated Christians do not shed much light. Satan high fives defeated Christians.

And yet, we are called to be the light of the world. I love the quote attributed to D. L. Moody by Henry Varley: “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man or a woman who is fully devoted to Him.” As we experience more of Him, our light shines bright in the world.

Become More

The Apostle Paul gives us insight regarding how we can shine our light in the world:

“Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.” —Romans 12:2

Each one of us is to be a light for Jesus—shining His light to those who are in darkness. As Billy Graham once said, “The Christian should stand out like a sparkling diamond.”

In what ways would your life reflect more of the light of Jesus if you were to apply some of the principles found in this devotional?

Further Reflections

“Praise the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds! He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion, who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.” —Psalm 103:2–5

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” —John 16:33

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