I hope that these devotions have enhanced your spiritual journey, brought you closer to the Lord, brought you Peace, calmed the storms of life, as well as guided you to make healthy choices. Some have said that they are good, but they are too long. They say they are looking for something that can be read quickly but at the same time, could be focused on throughout the day. So, let’s see how this goes:
Years ago, in a small Midwestern town, one man’s job was to watch the railroad crossing. When a train would approach at night, he was to wave a lantern to warn those driving on the narrow road that a train was approaching and to stop until it passed by. One particular night, the train was coming down the tracks as usual and the man took his place to warn any oncoming cars. He could see a car in the distance approaching the railroad tracks, so he began to wave his lantern in the moonlit sky. The car continued to come, so the man waved a lantern even more briskly. The train was only seconds away from the crossing. The car was not even slowing down. The man could not believe it, so he waved the lantern even harder. Still the car came! The car was almost to the track and the train was about to pass. The man could not stand in the middle of the road any longer. Again, he frantically waved his lantern and the car continued to come at full speed. Finally, the man jumped out of the way of the car as it sped by and was hit by the train on the tracks. Everyone in the car was killed.
At the investigation, the grief-stricken man explained to the authorities how we tried to warn the oncoming vehicle, but it would not stop. The officer in charge said to the man at the crossing, “sir, you waved your lantern…but you forgot to light it!
Jesus calls all of us to be a light of the world. It is our job to take the good news of the gospel to everyone we can. (with our words and actions) But it does no good try to shine on our own…if the light within us is not shining. Without the light of Christ, we will have a little impact.
Ephesians 5:8-10…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Would those who know you describe you as being filled with God’s Light…would they use words like: goodness, righteousness, and truth? Who or what is the true light?
Jesus says… John 8:12… When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
So, Jesus is the light (and light always drowns out darkness)….His light shines into you and through you to others…as we reflect His light to the world.
Matthew 5:13-16… “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Bible uses images of Light versus dark…Good versus evil…God versus Satan.
We all love John 3:16…and yet the verses to follow (verses 19-21) speaks of both darkness…and the impact of the light of the Lord on us.
John 3:19-21…This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Jesus did not come to turn on a light…but to be THE LIGHT! We don’t need to hide in the darkness of our sin…we can live in the Light of God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and our forgiveness! And then shine for all to see!
How do we receive this light?
- Reading God’s Word daily, using devotionals, having regular scheduled quiet time alone with God for prayer and meditation, corporate worship at church….as well as avoiding and resisting the darkness that the world tries to lure you with.
- Take time everyday to bask in the Light of your Lord and Savior…. then be the light to those who are lost in darkness.
- Each time you turn on a light today…thank the Lord for being THE LIGHT…and then shine His Love to others!
SOME LIGHT HUMOR FOR YOUR DAY:
- One day, God was making a wooden stick to light on fire. Seeing it, an angel said, “That looks like a match made in heaven”.
- Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
- There was a scientist who broke the speed of light while driving. He was then sent to prism.
- I tried to look for lighters on Amazon, and all they gave me was 13,749 matches.