April 25, 2013 - John 1:9

            The True Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.  John 1:9

            This was the ultimate spiritual D-Day!  The True Light of God, Jesus, was establishing His “beachhead” in this world. Darkness, like the Nazi regime’s control of Europe during World War II, reigned over God’s creation because of the fallen-ness of human sin.  When the Allies landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6^th, 1944, it meant that victory was coming and the Allies had beaten back the tyranny of the Nazis - although there were still many battles to be fought until it would be finally over.  When the True Light of God came into the world, it meant that God had won the ultimate battle, even though many battles would need to be fought to gain final victory.  It was the beginning of the “already-but-not-yet” kingdom of God coming to earth! 

            In a personal way, I see the True Light of God coming into my life on a regular basis.  Over and over again, I battle with the darkness that still tries to control me, even though He has made His “beachhead” in my life and continues to advance in my maturing process.  The victory has been won, yet the darkness doesn’t want to surrender, and my flesh still desires to stay in the shadows of the evil one’s influence.  And so the “already-but-not-yet” kingdom presses on and continues to come into the world of my life.  Thank God for the True Light that shines ever brighter, beating back the darkness with His shining glory!

            Questions to consider: Has the True Light of God come into your life?  If not, don’t you want to come out of the darkness that controls you?  If so, how is He advancing in your life?  Who is in the battle with you, and how do you fight the battle together?

            Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for coming into our world and for coming into the world of my life.  Thank You that You have already won the war.  Continue to strengthen me for the battles that need to be waged until the final, complete victory.  Amen.

April 18, 2013 - John 1:7

            “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe.”  John 1:7

            Jesus’ earthly cousin, John, came to the Jordan River to call the people of Israel to repent from their sins and to be baptized in water to seal their repentance.  John preached that Jesus, the Light of God, was coming, and He would give all people the opportunity to believe in God and be filled with His Holy Spirit.  John stated clearly that he was not the chosen one, the expected Messiah, but that the Messiah, the Light of God, was coming.  John gave witness to what he understood and believed, and he did not add anything to the message God had given him.  He didn’t embellish nor did he exaggerate, rather, he spoke the truth as he knew it.  His whole life – what he did and how he acted – was consistent with the words he spoke.  He was truly a man of integrity.

            Is my life a witness that communicates the Light of God to the world around me?  Or, is what I do or how I act communicating a different message from the Gospel I speak?  I realize that it is not just my words that testify to what I believe, but it is how I live my life – how I conduct myself when no one is looking.  How I act speaks much louder and clearer than what comes out of my mouth.  John lived his life in a way that was consistent with his message.  It is my hope that, as I live out my life, my actions match my words and my words are full of God’s grace. 

            Questions to consider: What message is your life communicating?  Do your words and your actions match?  What does integrity mean to you, and how do you live a life of integrity?

            Prayer: Father, I desire to live a life that is fully integrated with Your message of life.  I can only do this by Your grace and with Your power.  Please empower me to be a man of integrity.  Amen.

April 11, 2013 - John 1:5

            “The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”  John 1:5

            Just as light invades the darkness and forces it away, Jesus, the Word became Flesh, was, and still is, the ultimate Light that pushes back against our darkened world.  Later in this Gospel, John said that Jesus called Himself “the light of the world.”  He brought the Light back into this fallen world, and yet, the world, in its darkness, chose to ignore and not try to understand it.  The darkness decided that it was more comfortable to lurk in the shadows than to bring all the blemishes out into the Light.  The world has not understood the power that the Light has to transform and make all things right.

            I have had numerous times in my life when (so I thought) that it would be easier and more comfortable to stay in the darkness, particularly when it came to those things that were hidden in the closet of my life (again: “so I thought”!).  I would bring 90% of my life into the light, and I thought that was quite good and certainly enough.  But God, in His goodness and gentleness, kept, and continues to keep, nudging me to shine His light in all areas of my life.  Even though I don’t fully understand and my flesh desires to stay in the darkness, I choose to let the Light of Christ into all areas of my life.

            Questions to consider: Are there any areas in your life that you know are still in darkness?  Have you experienced the freedom that comes when God’s Light shines in your life?  What would it take for you to be “all in”; to let God’s Light shine totally in all areas of your life?

            Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your Light; Your Son, Jesus, into the world and into my life.  Give me strength to open all areas of my life, especially those areas that remain in darkness.  Amen.

April 4, 2013 - John 1:4

            “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  John 1:4

            The Word of God was alive and coming in the form of a human.  Jesus, the Nazarene carpenter, was the human manifestation of the second Person of the Godhead.  The Eternal Word that was with God from before creation had now come to us as a Man, and He was full of life.  Jesus was the ideal of how a man was to live, and His life was a light shining brightly for all humanity to witness over all time.

            I used to get really bummed out when I thought about trying to be like Jesus.  I knew that He was my ultimate example of how to live my life, and I also knew that I came up incredibly short.  I could never achieve His standard on my own strength.  In giving my life into Jesus’ arms, I experienced life in Him.  He brought renewed life to me, and “that life was the light” for me.  Issues in my life started to be revealed, and I felt empowered to deal with them because of His presence – His life and His Spirit – within me.  My life was beginning to conform to His image and I was experiencing His life, as these issues came to the light.  I was, and still am, far from perfect, but my life was now in Him.

            Questions to consider: Are there issues in your life that continue to be a struggle for you?  How have you tried to deal with them?  How can Jesus’ life be a light for you?

            Prayer: Father, thank You so much for sending Your Son into this broken world.  Help me to avoid trying to bring about changes in my life with my own strength.  Instead, remind me that Your Holy Spirit resides within to guide me through the issues that the light is shining on.  Amen.