Be Light

Ephesians 5:8-14

In today’s reading (v. 8), Paul tells the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” He doesn’t say you were once in the dark, but now you are in the light.  He specifically tells them they WERE darkness and now they ARE light.

Many times, Jesus is referred to as light and even calls himself light.

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”  John 12:46

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

These references and others like it, lead me to conclude that Paul is encouraging believers to set an example and be like Christ – to be light.  Like it says in Matthew 5:16, “… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The other day, I attended the mid-week Lenten service and drew a correlation between today’s scripture and the Benediction which talked about being chosen by God.  We, like the Ephesians, are chosen by God to be light in a dark world:

You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, Chosen to be holy people, God’s instruments to do His work and speak for Him, to tell others what God has done for you.  So, go into the world; live as God’s people, Through the grace of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Go… and be light.

The Work of the Light

It is interesting to read about the Magi, aka - the three kings, or three wise men. However you know them, they are only mentioned briefly in scripture, and are memorable characters in the story of the birth of Christ anyway.

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

These three men were drawn by the light. There is safety in the light, a clear path is opened before us when we walk into the light. So much of what we deal with is cloaked in darkness; like a bug to a light-bulb in the evening, we are drawn in to feel the warmth of the light and we sense the security offered. If you ever stumbled about in the dark, you know how comforting it is when someone shines a light. Fear of falling passes and you can walk forward with confidence.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory appears over you.

Jesus was born in a stable, a cave-like dwelling, and He lit up the room. The moment of His birth changed everything. Light replaced darkness. The cold and dreary setting of a dank stable was immediately transformed by His light.

Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The Magi are touched by the sight of Jesus and they bow down and worship, offering precious gifts to the baby. A good lesson for each of us as we experience all that the LIGHT accomplishes in our lives.

Isaiah 60:1-5

Lost Friendship - Found Truth

Setting the scene for today's devotion, verse 29 of John 8 is this: "And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." Jesus's words always get my attention, and these words coming as Jesus is teaching about His being the Light of the World. I know that when then light came on for me, everything changed. Can you relate? Do you know what I am talking about?

I didn't even know I was in darkness, until the Light entered in. Many of us can tell about a time when everything was bleak, life was hard and some days we questioned, "Why am I hear? What is the point?"

John 8:31-32 (ESV)
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
I can't remember for certain the incident that started the process for me. I know it had something to do with losing a friendship over something silly, that started with a lie and grew. The lie was meant to save someone's feelings, and if truth be told I was probably trying to save myself some uncomfortable moments. But, isn't that how is goes?

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

The Truth became real to me in that season. Jesus began doing a new thing in my heart and my life. It took many years, but finally that friendship was healed. That is a story for another time, or blog post. The point is, Jesus is Grace and Truth and once we discover Him and become His disciples, nothing will ever be the same again, and that is a very good thing.

John 8:31-38

I Can't Find It ANYWHERE!!!!

I am a mother of a ten-year-old.  And among other things, that means he can’t find anything I send him to look for.  It could be his baseball equipment, phone, the laundry basket… it really doesn’t matter.

It can be right in front of him and he is blind.  Can you re

late?  Is there anyone in your family who has a hard time seeing what is right in front of them?  Or maybe, please forgive me, it’s you.  You struggle locating things that are hidden in plain sight.

I laugh as I type this, but our scripture passage today has a similar situation.  John 9 talks about a time when Jesus is walking on a road with his disciples, and they come across a man blind from birth.  This man can’t see a thing.  He was born this way.  It’s not his fault.  It’s not his parents fault.  He is just blind. 

Jesus spits in the mud, forms clay and applies it to the man’s eyes.  After washing his eyes, he went home seeing. 

Now, this is where the story get’s interesting.  The healed man comes upon some Pharisees who investigate how he regained his sight.  They question lifelong neighbors, some of who can’t decide if it is really the man they grew up knowing.  They ask his parents how it happened.  They reply, “No comment.”  All the while the young man keeps telling them Jesus did it. 

The Pharisees have dedicated their lives to God and the study of scriptures, but they cannot see the Messiah that is right in front of them.  They may not have been physically blinded, but they struggle with spiritual blindness and ironically the Light of the World is right there among them. 

Let’s not be like the Pharisees, make sure to take some time today and ask God to open your eyes to him.  Ask him to help you see where he is and how you can be a part of what he is doing.

Ready today's passage here John 9:1-25

In The Eye Of The Storm

Last week we had a hurricane in South Florida.  It was my families first experience with a hurricane.  To say it was exciting and terrifying would be an understatement.  The category 4 hurricane was headed our direction and so we prepared. 

We were ready for days without power and water.  We stocked our pantry with nonperishable foods such as canned fruit, beef jerky, trail mix and lots of supplies for PB & J’s.  The most important supply we purchased according to our son, FLASHLIGHTS!

Evan is not afraid of the dark, but being stuck in a violent storm in the dark is a whole other thing.   We made the prospect of being in the dark fun, telling him we would play flashlight tag when it got really dark.  He was definitely down for a game that involved flashlights.

Well, we got lucky and the storm passed us by.  Other than some above average winds and rain, the hurricane was a non-event and my husband and I were grateful.  We knew others in the world were not as fortunate, so we did not take this lightly.  As we were counting our blessings, or son was disappointed.  He never got to play flashlight tag.

As parents we learn to master making a bad situation look good, so our children do not feel the weight of our circumstances.  As Christians we have to be careful to not do the same thing. 

Playing in the dark as a Christian is an entirely different game.  When we spend time in the dark, as stated in 1 John 1:5-10, we have no fellowship with one another or with God.  The dark is where we go to hide our sin.  God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.  We cannot be hiding sin and be around God. 

So what do we do?  Admit our sin.  God is not waiting around to shame us, he wants to cover us with his love, but not admitting our sin keeps his love from penetrating our brokenness and healing us of what drives us to sin.  If you are hiding in darkness trying to keep your sins a secret, stop playing games and give it to God.  He knows how to protect you from the storm.

Read today's Scripture here

Open Bibles shed Light

By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.  Psalm 119:105-112 (Message)

The Message translation for these verses in Psalm 119 is beautiful. While I love my trusty NIV, this fresh view is stunning. I see it is God’s Word that is the Light. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God. (John 1:1) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) This Word was/is Jesus. And Jesus is the light of the world. 

To walk safely in the woods at night we need a light so we don't trip over tree roots or fall into holes. In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won't stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.  -Life Application Study Bible

To maneuver our way through even one day in this world we need light. Some days we need a very bright light to shut out all the darkness surrounding us. The darkness is blared on the TV screen with words which scroll across the bottom, always there to remind us what is happening in society.

While we are attempting to escape by watching some mellow programming, the darkness pursues. And we cannot escape. But, we can walk toward the light. We can continue to follow the lighted path and avoid the dark recesses. Get in the Word and see if a light doesn't come on.

Psalm 119:105-112

Psalm 119:105-112

I stand with the Father!

John 8:12 (NIV)
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." 

Why is the dark such a scary place? Small children are often afraid to be left in the dark. Once these fears surface only a night-light will chase them away. How about during a storm, the lights flicker and suddenly the room is plunged into darkness? What do we immediately do?  Dig out the candles and search for the matches.  A collective sign is heard when the flames flicker and the room is finally light.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (Exodus 13:21)

There are times when life is so troubling we feel as though we are stumbling in the dark, not knowing where to turn next. That is when God will go ahead of us to show us how to navigate through dark times.  Often it is that very darkness which shows us the light. When we have light, and once we are brought up out of the darkness, things become clear. We can see the difference between good and bad; right and wrong.

When we enter into the light we can see everything with new, fresh eyes. We see that we were never alone.  It is then we can reject the dark - those friends who took us down dangerous paths and embrace the light of healthy and meaningful relationships with others who live in the light.

I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. (John 8:16)

John 8:12-20

Luke 19:1-10

It’s Personal

Do you remember the song about Zacchaeus? The one that begins this way:

Click picture to view 2 minute video

“There was a man in Jericho call Zacchaeus. There was a man in Jericho called Zacchaeus. Now the Hebrews, they were tall, but Zacchaeus, he was small, and the Lord loved Zacchaeus better than them all!”

I don’t know that Jesus loved Zacchaeus MORE than others, but He did make the time to seek Zacchaeus out, sit at his table and through his words and presence brought the tax collector out of death and into life.

Jesus was most at home in the midst of the lowly. He knew they needed Him. He often took aside those shunned by the majority and made example of them.

Every person matters to God. Our relationship with Him is personal. Many of us are searching but do not know what we are looking for, like Zacchaeus. We long for answers, hope and life but often look in all the wrong places. Jesus was the light that guided Zacchaeus out of his darkness. Perhaps a gloom he did not even realize.

As people of God we still fail and begin again. We put our hope in things that do not matter eternally, forgetting that the will of God is what matters.  His will, in His time.

As we journey through this earthly existence, God asks us to seek those who are searching for life in places that can’t give life. May we, like Jesus open our hearts to taking the hand of another and sharing the hope that is within us. Who is your Zacchaeus?

Enter the Light

Do you ever dream about tomorrow; what it will look like, how you will feel when tomorrow comes? I spend too much time thinking about what should have been and way too much energy reliving the past. The Scripture verses in Isaiah 60 are painting a picture of tomorrow; not what should have been, but what will be. In our waking hours we live in the today but in our dreams we can go to tomorrow.

  

Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)  "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

The light has come. Have you ever stumbled in the darkness? Literally speaking I can recall a night in Honduras, while on a short-term mission trip, I found myself trying to find my way back to my cabin in the dark. My flashlight had broken and I was walking unfamiliar terrain in total darkness. When you live in the states, night time is dark, but in countries where there are no street lights or city lights to provide even a distance glow, it is really dark.

This experience has stayed with me over the years. I don't ever want to walk in 'real' darkness again. I felt alone and fearful of my safety. The relief I felt as I drew close to the shelter and saw a bit of light in the distance convicted me to never get in that situation again.  I drew a stunning parallel of walking in darkness and trying to find my way in life without the light of Jesus. 

The phrase, "Light of the World," took on new meaning to me that night. Today is Christmas Eve, the time we wait for that Light to come and shine on our path so we no longer need to stumble in the darkness. This Light will guide us safely home. Let 2014 be the year we share this light with others who are on a dark path.

Isaiah 60:1-7

The Story – Chapter 26 – The Hour of Darkness

Luke 22: 39-53

Matthew, Mark and John wrote of the same exact experience as this passage in Luke. Their words may vary, but the stories corroborate each other. Today’s reading in Luke revisits the time when Jesus and his disciples were at the Mount of Olives and Jesus instructed them to “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He then went a short distance away, fell to his knees, and prayed like no one else can. He was in agony, knowing  the night of his crucifixion was very near. He prayed fervently, dreading the cross but submitting himself to his heavenly Father’s higher purpose.

The Journey (Bible For Seeking God and Understanding Life) says something I must share regarding the heart of Jesus, and how we can take example from Him in one of His darkest moments. “We will face deep anguish in our life-everyone does. When that happens you can do what Jesus did; PRAY. Pray hard, pray deep, pray honestly, pray out all your feelings-not a formula. Pray until you sweat and cry and fall down in exhaustion. Pray with others. Pray alone. Pray as long as it takes, and then pray longer. Pray because nothing else works, and keep praying when it doesn’t seem to work. Pray because Jesus prayed, pray because you want to pray, pray because you don’t want to pray. Pray out loud, pray quietly. Pray whenever you think about it, pray instead of just thinking about it. Pray when you walk and when you drive and when you wake up and when you go to sleep. Pray before you forget. Pray right now.”

This 3 minute video is worth watching:

John Piper - Prayer Causes Things to Happen

 Read/Listen to Luke 22: 39-53

The Story – Chapter 26 – Matthew 27:32-50

Why God?

　
It was a dark day. My world was about to be turned upside down. As I sat down with my fiancée (we had been dating for two years through high school and college) she told me her reason for breaking up with me. At first I believed her but then I doubted. Finally she confessed that she had met someone else and didn’t love me anymore.

The pain that she caused felt unbearable. The following three months were chaotic. I couldn’t concentrate on my classes, my friends didn’t want to be around me because I was so angry and I was depressed. One night I went for a walk and cried out to God as I lay on the ground in agony, "Why God"?

God was using my rejection and pain to bring me closer to Him. Two thousand years before this He used His son’s rejection and pain to make it possible for all to know Him. As Jesus hung on the cross he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"?
He was alone. His closest friends and followers had turned away from him. The crowds that had only a few days before given him a king’s welcome, now mocked and insulted him. Even His Heavenly Father had rejected him.

Yet this was why he had come. Everything that he had done before this, lead up to this. Healing the sick, feeding the five thousand, teaching his followers and touching the unclean were only means to an end. Not the end of his life, but the beginning – the beginning of forgiveness and being in intimate fellowship with the God of creation.

Why did Jesus go through all of the pain and suffering even to the point of declining to drink the wine and gall which would deaden the pain? Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".

There was joy before him. The joy of one day being able to sit down at the right hand of the throne of God, his Father. Not only that, but the joy of knowing that he made it possible for you and for me to sit at the throne of God and call Him Abba, Father.

Read the lesson here.

Listen to the lesson here.

The Story – Chapter 22 – The Birth of the King

John 1    God Became One of Us

John 1:4 “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” This reminds me of the line about being a mushroom- always kept in the dark and unaware of what is happening outside of that cold, gloomy blackness.

John speaks of Jesus coming into the world to be the light amidst the darkness, but man was unable to see or understand. Why are we so simple minded and stubborn?  It seems impossible to imagine that people did not realize who Jesus truly was.  He was a walking, talking fountain of peace and love, with wisdom and hope beyond compare. Perhaps it’s because He did not come off as a tough, burly he man. Maybe He appeared too weak to be one with God. Possibly if He had shown anger and physical strength He would have been more respected. Wow, we sure miss out because of our human limitations and inability to comprehend what is important. Because we are driven by the mundane and insignificant we totally miss that which is essential. God help us!

Jesus was with God in the beginning. He came to this earth not as just a good man, but as the God-Man. The second in the trinity, temporarily disconnected from the other two in order to bring true light and life to us all. “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.” He was here! John 1: 10 “He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.” How could that happen? Why were they so blind as not to see God when he was right here on this earth? So often Jesus revealed His true identity, but was questioned, denied, and despised-just like now.

In John 8:23-24 Jesus again revealed his origin. “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world….” The true basis for our Christian faith is not just the moral teachings of Jesus, but Jesus himself as part of the Holy trinity. I believe it’s time we mushrooms come out of the darkness and drag a few other mushrooms out with us to soak up the light……and live!  

Mark your calendar 3-3-13 The Bible on The History Channel

Read John 1 

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Luke 11:33-36

Small Lamp…Big Light
Today’s reading is short on words, but long on meaning. The scripture title is, “The Lamp of the Body.” It says, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness…..”

SEE TO IT, THEN, THAT THE LIGHT WITHIN YOU IS NOT DARKNESS. This has nothing to do with our ability to see. I know someone without sight, who is more full of light and promise than most others I have ever met. My world finds me surrounded by individuals with disabilities of varying types and degrees, as I am a special education teacher. Many of the students I have the privilege of working with shine daily in God’s love. I have also been in the company of several whose time on this earth was coming to an end. Their sincere hope and trust in the Lord honestly made them glow.

It is up to us what we choose to reflect through our existence, but it is clear what God directs us to do. “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” God doesn’t tell us that if we’re having a good day we should shine, but if not, it’s ok to be gloomy and dark. He says, “See to it……” because it’s not about us, it’s about others and what we can do to share the good news of Christ. We can do this from right where we are. We don’t have to be a preacher or missionary. We are to be who God intended us to be, and shine His light through the body He gave us. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…………….”

Connect to today's reading here

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

Those Sitting in Darkness - Psalm 107:10-16

The people in prison were there because of their rebellion against God. God humbled them by putting them in chains and making them work hard. They were miserable and stumbled in the darkness. They felt they would die. There was no one to help them. They were without hope. (v 10-12)

They cried out to the Lord. God, in His infinite grace, heard their cries and rescued them out of their darkness. (v 13-14)

The Psalmist jumps ahead and enters what their response to being saved should be: ”Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds…” (v 15-16)

We can be frozen in our world by unexpected life situations: the death of a loved one, loss of job, illness, or terrible accident. We can stumble around in life when we feel helpless in our addictions. We can be blinded by our habits of anger, overwork, wanting more than we need. We invite or allow these things to imprison our minds and hearts, and turn us away from God. We create our own darkness.

When we find ourselves sitting in darkness, fear, pain, or helplessness we can turn to Him. He will rescue us. Thank God for His incredible patience and for His abounding mercy and forgiveness in Christ. Confess to Him any ways in which you resist His care and control of your life. Ask forgiveness and choose to trust Him.

He, alone, offers hope and strength to those who sit in darkness.

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Lamp in a Dark Place -- 2 Peter 3:16-21

Have you experienced total darkness? When I was in high school I went on a tour to see the inside of a cave. Deep in the cave, our guide said the lights would be turned off so we could experience the darkness. When the lights went out, we were covered by total darkness. The silence was chilling. I didn't move as I feared falling or stepping into danger. I remember the moment when our guide lit a lamp so we could see her face as she continued telling us about the cave. My focus was on the only light in the darkness.

I don't like to be in dark places due to my experience in the cave. I always look for exits when I'm in strange places to be prepared to get out if necessary. I don't want to put my trust in someone else to lead me to safety. They may not know where they are going!

Today's scripture reminds me to be careful not to be led into darkness by people who pretend to know the gospel. Reading and studying scripture is essential to prepare myself and keep confusion from entering my mind and heart. God's Words are like a light shining through the darkness helping me grow more and more in the grace and understanding of Jesus Christ, my Savior.

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, 2 Peter 3:16-21.

Lamp to my Feet -- Psalm 119:105-112

Growing up, storms frequently caused power outages in our home. Mom would light a lamp and lead the way upstairs at bedtime. I remember how the light cast shadows on the walls and ceilings. It revealed each step ahead of us; behind us was darkness. The sounds of the wind and rain pounding on the windows were unsettling. As we made our way through the darkness, the warmth of the light and knowing mom held my hand made me feel secure.

Today's text reminds me how frequently God's Word is a light for my path. I am guided, taught, revived, and comforted by His Word. God takes my hand and walks beside me step by step. He is there in the center of whatever situation I am walking through. He speaks to me through His Words and helps me see where I am going. When I am obedient and focused on God through His Word, I am encouraged, my faith is strengthened, and joy fills my heart.

"I inherited Your book on living; it's mine forever—what a gift! And how happy it makes me!" Psalm 119:111 MSG

How has the Word of God been a lamp to your feet?

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Read the entire text for today on Biblegateway, Psalm 119:105-112.

Thy Word Is A Lamp Unto My Feet. Psalm 119:9-16

Lighting our lives takes preparation. To light our house we need to pay the electric bill. In case we lose power, we have candles and flashlights handy. We often undervalue the work it takes to fill our life with light, or maybe it has just become second nature.

Psalm 119 explains how we can be ready, spiritually, when darkness tries to fall on our life. If we follow the wisdom in this passage, lighting our faith life can become second nature too. We need to hide the word in our heart; the only way to do that is to learn what the Bible says. What’s the best way to do that?

First we need to meditate on it. Once we’ve read a passage, mull it over. Dig deep, ask questions, let it will become real and relevant.

We also need to recount what the word says. Tell others, it will not only change the life of the seeker, it will also strengthen our knowledge of scripture.

Finally we are to delight what it says. If we study the word begrudgingly, we won’t learn a thing. If we joyfully seek to grow through our knowledge of scripture though, we will always be connected with the light source.

 

Read today's passage on Biblegateway Psalm 119:9-16

 

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