God Is Light

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.
(1 John 1:5-6)

Meditation

My whole existence was nothing but darkness before Jesus saved me. The way I thought about myself and others was keeping me separated from God. I was totally lost, living only for myself. My wife had asked for a divorce and there was nothing I could do to change her mind. Of course, we were both at fault, but the failure was mine. I was at one of the lowest points in my life. Then, on October 23, 1998, the Holy Spirit softened my heart just enough to hear a message of salvation that I desperately needed. I have been called out of the darkness I was living in and into his light. Not just my Sunday mornings, but my whole 24/7/365 existence.
Several times since then I have slipped backwards and tried to live with one foot in my old way of living and the other as a Christian. I tried to justify myself by thinking that I wasn’t as bad as I used to be. I even told myself I was trying to reach my old friends, so they could know Christ too. That was a lie. Trying to live that way does not work. I felt so guilty, I wasn’t happy in either world. I didn’t want to be sinful enough to fit in with my old chums, but my church life suffered because I wasn’t spending time with the Lord. The Holy Spirit finally spoke to me through the words of a sermon. Fortunately, I have a Savior who forgives my missteps. I am not the person I used to be but I’m far from the person I want to be.
A couple of things I know are, God is perfect, and I am not. God in in control, and I am not. I am a fallible human being in need of a savior, and Jesus rescued me. I usually spend my day stumbling along in the dark. I often find it necessary to seek pardon from God for something I’ve done, said or thought. When Jesus walked among us, he gave us all an example of how we’re supposed to live. I try and usually fail to live by his example. If I were to willfully sin without any thought of repentance, I would only be fooling myself – I would be no follower of Jesus. God wants my whole heart. He wants only what’s best for me. He has never, will never lie to me. He is completely and totally the light of truth. It’s his light that lights my path in life.




Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings and provisions. This world is so incredibly wicked, and it’s getting worse every day. Being fallen humans, we are constantly tempted to believe there really is no absolute right or wrong. Father, we ask you to strengthen our resolve to be zealous followers of Jesus Christ. Our daily lives bring us into contact with this dark and sleazy world. We want to always be in fellowship with you, Lord, so let your Spirit rule our hearts and lives. Keep us from giving ourselves excuses for our misdeeds and failings. When we do take that step off the righteous path, guide us back and forgive us with our repentance. Keep showing us a better way to live with the words of scripture, and prompt us to read every day. Help us to be as much like Jesus as we can and to walk through life as a bright and shining example of his light. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen!

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