LIGHT SHINES IN DARKNESS
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:1-9 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
I have always been intrigued by John’s approach to telling the story of Jesus coming to earth. In Matthew and Luke, we read about the angel visiting Mary and Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem, shepherds, and wise men. These are the things we normally think of as part of the Christmas narrative. John begins from a bigger approach. He looks back at the beginning of time and declares that Jesus, as the Word, existed before time began.
John tells us that Jesus came into the world to shine light into the darkness and the darkness “can never extinguish it.” The light that Jesus brought into the world is still present today in our world. This light is available to everyone.
Light is important to any civilization. Light offers direction and protection. When we have light, we can see where to go and how to get there. When we have light, we can see what we need to avoid in order to arrive safely at the destination.
We have probably all had those moments in the middle of the night we get up in the dark to go to the bathroom and run into the corner of some table or chair. I’ve actually hit the door frame a time or two. I was trying not to wake Cindy by turning on a light but instead I woke her more when I banged into some object.If I had even a little light, I would be able to avoid the objects in my way.
There are a lot of people trying to navigate life without good light. They are counting on culture or society to tell them what to do and where to go. The problem is these people keep hitting the same things over and over because they are trying to live without God’s light.
When we open our hearts to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we suddenly have the Holy Spirit living within us. He is always available to shine God’s light into our world. As we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, we begin to see God’s light revealing the path we should take and the things we should avoid.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, I need You to shine the light of Jesus into my world every day. I need You to show me direction as well as things I need to avoid. Help me to see Your light.
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