Under the cover of Darkness - Matthew 26:57-75

Children are often afraid of the dark.  Shadows play games with the minds of little ones; visions of bogeymen fill their dreams causing them to sleep with a night-light.  The same fear exits in the adult world as well.  There is an electrical storm, the power goes out and we quickly locate the candles or oil lamps and fill the room with light. Darkness is scary; there is too much unknown waiting in the shadows.

So much darkness surrounded the time of Jesus arrest and conviction.

• The mob came in the middle of the night. 
• Jesus was taken to the home of Caiaphas before daybreak
• Twenty-four hours later the religious leaders met at Caiaphas's house at night
• Upstairs in the high priest's palace the priests and council met before dawn.

"Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled." (Matthew 26:57) 


Evil is drawn to the cover of darkness.  "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.  But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward..." (Matthew 26:59-60)

Those who told lies about Jesus did it at night. Those who wanted to kill Jesus spoke against him and beat him that night.  Do you think the leaders felt safer speaking lies in the dark when they thought Jesus couldn't see them.  How much of our sinful ways takes place away from the light?

Read the text at Biblegateway.

Blinded By The Dark -- Matthew 4:12-25

The people living in darkness have seen a great light...

Are you afraid of the dark? I'm not afraid of the dark, but I don't care for it too much. At night when my son cries for me and I am trying to hurry to comfort him, the dark annoys me because it slows me down. If I am in a dark parking lot at night I feel afraid because I feel vulnerable to being attacked.

There is another kind of darkness, and that is a spiritual darkness. Jesus came to shine light on that darkness. What is spiritual darkness? Well, for someone who does not know Jesus it often shows itself as confusion, anger, depression, self-indulgence... and for those who do know Jesus, darkness tries to attack in those same ways. Darkness also attacks the believe by drawing them away from the light, which is Christ, and deeper into dark places.

I am writing this devotion for my mom because our world has been turned upside down with the illness of my father. As we watch cancer take him from us, darkness is trying to blind me to the love and light of Christ. I am constantly getting into the word, so I can be wrapped in God's light.

When Jesus started his ministry we see that he preached the good news of the kingdom of heaven. It is so important to remember when darkness tries to overtake us, and in my case distract me with death, there is a light that breaks through that darkness and the darkness CAN NOT overtake it!

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 4:12-25

Light Of The World. Isaiah 60:1-7

I love prophetic scriptures. Today’s verse talks of gold and incense coming from Sheba to proclaim the praise of the LORD, and flocks gathering to serve the one who is as bright as the dawn. Today, we understand this is speaking of Jesus. The wise men came from the east and the shepherds, with their flocks, all followed the light of the star to worship the “Light of The World”.

Darkness is such a fearful place. Our scripture today says that darkness covers the earth. Thick darkness is over the people. What is darkness? It is the absence of light. Darkness keeps us from seeing obstacles in our path, paralyzing fear overwhelms us and we are frozen, unable to move forward.

My family received some pretty dark news the other day. My father is dying of cancer and right now my vision is a bit obstructed. I know many of you reading this can relate. You have been in a dark spot in your own life. It is for times like these that Jesus came.

Our passage today say, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” I don’t feel much like shining right now. I feel like the darkness is so over powering that it might overtake me. That is exactly what the enemy wants. The end of verse two says, “but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you”. Notice that the Lord’s glory will appear over us in those dark times without action on our part.

It is a promise from God. The Light has come into our world and it will shine God’s glory into our lives so we can shine into the lives of others. The hard part, for us, is understanding we do our best shining when all seems darkest.


Read today's passage at Biblegateway Isaiah 60:1-7

How’s Your Vision? Matthew 23:23-38

I remember one Halloween Steve and I, when we were dating, went to a costume party each wearing simple house blinds (Don’t ask how we managed that). With confused looks, our friends asked us what we were supposed to be. Knowing we stumped them we would proudly reply, “The blind leading the blind.”

We had fun thinking we had clever costumes that year, but today’s scripture talks about the blind leading the blind in a more sober manner. Jesus says two different times in five verses, “You blind guides!” And then more specifically, “Blind Pharisee!” He is warning the religious leaders of being hypocrites and living a life which looked holy from the outside, but was self-indulgent and greedy on the inside.

As Christians we should be challenged from this passage. Do we live a life that is set apart and different from the rest of the world, in order to lead a hurting friend, neighbor, or co-wording to Christ? Or do we clean up our act just enough so when the casual observer looks, we seem to have it all together? If that is the case we are no more than the blind leading the blind.

If you’re willing, take a good look at your insides today. Ask God to reveal any areas you’ve been turning a blind eye to, and address it for His glory. I don’t say these words lightly. It’s always humbling when God reveals areas I need to see more clearly. But remember He loves you and will light your path as you clean, so you don’t stub your toe.

Read today’s passage on Biblegateway Matthew 23:23-28

Shine On, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Can I confess something? I don’t like children’s sermons. Hear me out. Back in the day, I loved them. I loved the cute kids, and laughed whenever they gave away a family “secret”. That was, until I had a little one up there.

As a pastor’s kid, Evan is extremely comfortable at church. He thinks his job is to entertain everyone. So of course they love to give him the microphone during children’s sermons. I guess it’s not the children’s sermon I dislike so much as I fear what my son will say. One mention of how our family passes gas or how I lose my temper and the sweet Christian family, the congregation has pictured is shattered.

Can you hear my sarcasm? I hope so.

Today’s scripture requires us to keep things in perspective or we will be too intimidated to be effective. 2 Corinthians 3 says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.”

Did you know when the Holy Spirit is at work, you reflect the Lord’s glory? You glow. This is scary if we take ourselves too seriously. Remember we are not the source of the glow, God is. With all our flaws, God still shines his glory through us, for those who are seeking. So shine on flawed one.

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway.com 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

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In God's Presence, Psalm 43

Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell. -Psalm 43:3

Where is your favorite place to go and be with God? Some people like to be in nature; whether watching the sunrise or listening to the waves. Being outside draws them close to God.

Others love a worship service or concert where the praise music draws them into God’s presence. The words mixed with the beat strike a chord that connects them with the Creator.

I like to be alone with my guitar and Bible. I love to read God’s word and learn new and amazing things God has done. I respond to what I find by playing my guitar and singing praises to Him.

The truth is, as long as we are following God’s light and truth we will be brought to His holy mountain, to the place where He dwells. How wonderful is that! God promises us access to him; we don’t have to seek it out, we just have to seek out his truth and we will be in the presence of God.
Read the entire scripture on Biblegateway Psalm 43

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Shine God's Light -- John 3:16-21

Love

Hung Him

On a cross

To die for all

Our old selfish sinful selves forgiven

In Christ, God demonstrated love for us

His Light is in our hearts!

Claim His hope

Power

Love

Shine God's Light in your world!

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, John 3:16-21.