“I’ve seen the light!” It’s the
stereotypical expression of the religious experience. We say it more in
exaggerated, joking tones than anything else. But you know what? I have seen the light! You have, too.
Of Jesus, John writes, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”1 The apostle teaches us who Jesus is—the Son of God who lived among us in human flesh for a specific time and for a specific purpose before returning to the Father in heaven. He came and He left, but His presence remains; it always will. Says John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”2 True enough, we see Him beaming all around us, and truth be told, He glows through you.
Jesus shines from you who have known Him all your life and from you who discovered Him later in life. He shines from you who turn to God in grief, and He shines from you who comfort the brokenhearted with care. The Light shines from you who struggle against the dark powers of addiction and from you who faithfully walk beside these daily victors. He shines through you on the left and through you on the right who share eternal citizenship in a Kingdom not of this world. Jesus shines from you who stand boldly as mighty oaks of faith; He shines from you who cling to Him with seed-sized belief. He shines through your faith; He shines through your forgiveness. He shines through your compassion; He shines through your humility. He shines through your brokenness; He shines through your healing. He shines through you.
“You are the light of the world,”3 taught Jesus to the eager crowd. In this confidence and in this joy, we step into a new day and, once again, “shine like stars in the universe as [we] hold out the word of life.”4 For we have seen the Light, and, in Him, we are light, too.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
Father, send your Spirit, that I may shine today in what I say and do. Be pleased with your people; be glorified in us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Christ in me is life.
1 John 1:4
2 John 1:5
3 Matthew 5:14
4 Philippians 2:15
Listen to John proclaim Jesus Christ as God in John 1:1-14.
Of Jesus, John writes, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”1 The apostle teaches us who Jesus is—the Son of God who lived among us in human flesh for a specific time and for a specific purpose before returning to the Father in heaven. He came and He left, but His presence remains; it always will. Says John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”2 True enough, we see Him beaming all around us, and truth be told, He glows through you.
Jesus shines from you who have known Him all your life and from you who discovered Him later in life. He shines from you who turn to God in grief, and He shines from you who comfort the brokenhearted with care. The Light shines from you who struggle against the dark powers of addiction and from you who faithfully walk beside these daily victors. He shines through you on the left and through you on the right who share eternal citizenship in a Kingdom not of this world. Jesus shines from you who stand boldly as mighty oaks of faith; He shines from you who cling to Him with seed-sized belief. He shines through your faith; He shines through your forgiveness. He shines through your compassion; He shines through your humility. He shines through your brokenness; He shines through your healing. He shines through you.
“You are the light of the world,”3 taught Jesus to the eager crowd. In this confidence and in this joy, we step into a new day and, once again, “shine like stars in the universe as [we] hold out the word of life.”4 For we have seen the Light, and, in Him, we are light, too.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
Father, send your Spirit, that I may shine today in what I say and do. Be pleased with your people; be glorified in us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Christ in me is life.
1 John 1:4
2 John 1:5
3 Matthew 5:14
4 Philippians 2:15
Listen to John proclaim Jesus Christ as God in John 1:1-14.
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