Tag: darkness
“Awake, O Sleeper!”
Scripture reading for August 29: Ephesians 5
“. . . for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:8-16
Paul was concerned that there were those among the believers who were still walking in darkness. This darkness took the form of sexual immorality, covetousness and impurity. There was filthy talk and crude joking. Paul plainly explained that God’s wrath would come on all living in disobedience and none living habitually in those sins would inherit God’s glorious kingdom. (Ephesians 5:3-6) These people were asleep in their flesh and under God’s wrath.
The proper way to live was one of positive action. Believers should study the Word of God and discern what was pleasing to God and live that way. They should reflect God’s light to those in darkness and expose their lives of disobedience through holy living. They should call those who were asleep spiritually to “wake up” and rise from the dead! Christ’s love was shining a light on their slumber deeds of darkness when instead Christ desired to reflect His light through their repentance and faith. Believers were called to carefully examine their walk and make the most of their time on earth. In days of evil, they were to reflect the light of Jesus Christ and God’s goodness.
As you evaluate your own life, would you say that you were asleep in sin or actively living a holy life pleasing to God? Would our Father God be able to use your life to shine a light on those now asleep? What is one thing that you might do to make the most of your time on earth?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for waking up those sleeping in darkness by shining the light of Your Word through Your committed followers. Give me discernment daily to choose to do that which pleases You and exposes and drives out darkness. I proclaim with You: “Awake, O sleep, rise from the dead!” Amen.
Know the true light!
Scripture reading for March 18: Luke 11
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Luke 11:33-36
The setting of this teaching revolved around Jesus casting out a demon from a man who was mute. The man was instantly delivered and began to talk. But some people said that Jesus cast out the demon by Beelzebul, who was considered by the Jews to be the prince of demons. (Luke 11:14-20) Jesus carefully explained that no kingdom divided against itself could stand. The casting out of that demon was by the ‘finger of God’ and demonstrated that the powerful kingdom of God was in their midst. Satan’s kingdom of darkness is always trying to twist the light of truth and keep people in darkness. Unredeemed man loves darkness and refused to come to the light. (John 3:19)
Jesus used the example of a lamp being lit to drive out darkness. The lamp would be put on a stand to help everyone see. The eye is the lamp of our body as well. If our eye is healthy, it allows light to come into the body that we might see things clearly. If our eye is bad, our lives will be dominated by darkness. From these simple illustrations, Jesus warned those judging Him as using Satan’s power to cast out demons, that their ‘eyes’ were ‘bad’ and they really were living in darkness. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105) Jesus is the Light of the world and in Him is no darkness at all or shadow of turning. (John 8:12) Healthy eyes are a necessity for a godly worldview.
Have you ever judged someone to be evil when they were actually sharing truth? When you take a spiritual eye exam, how would you rate the quality of light in your own soul? Are there areas of ‘darkness’ that you need to invite Jesus to shine His light on?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are the Light of the world. Thank You for Your Word as light in my life. Cleanse me of any darkness by bringing Jesus’ Word to my eyes and heart. Use me to reflect Your light through my daily life of faith and witness. Amen.
Walls of Salvation–Gates of Praise!
Scripture reading for August 1: Isaiah 58-62
“”No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:18-19
There’s a song out that uses the thoughts of these verses of Isaiah. Chris Tomlin sings “My Deliverer” and I love the chorus about the walls and gates of the New Jerusalem! This passage and chapter of Isaiah have many similarities with Revelation 21 and the vision of the Apostle John and it is exciting to see that God’s plans are firmly established and moving forward.
Our nation and world are in deep darkness. The peoples of the earth for the most part are living in ignorance of the Lord and His light. It was the vision of Isaiah that as the world lay in darkness, a call to arise and shine would be given to God’s people. (Isaiah 60:1-2) This might refer to the rapture of the Church at the end of time as well as when Jesus first appeared. The Glory of the Lord will rise upon the earth and nations will come to the brightness of that new dawning. Jesus Christ came into the darkness of this world and proclaimed that He was the light of the world! (John 8:12) Whoever would follow Him will never walk in darkness but would have the light of life! At the end of time we will shine like the brightness of heaven and the stars! (Daniel 12:3)
From the witness of the light of God within His church, Jesus Christ is populating the New Jerusalem. It’s walls are salvation. We are protected by God’s saving grace through the gift of forgiveness. We are saved from the penalty of our sins and eternal judgment in the lake of fire and outer darkness. It’s gates are praise! Those who enter come singing and praising the One who gave them life and eternal light! God is their light and they have no darkness in them! There are no more tears, crying or pain. Eternal light from God’s glory fills the city and it’s inhabitants!
When this will happen is not known by any man. But the Lord tells us that in it’s time, it will be done swiftly! We must be ready and watching! “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22b) “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. (quickly)” (Revelation 22:20)
The Light of Men!
Scripture reading for October 16th: John 1, Psalm 56, Proverbs 20
John 1: 1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John, the beloved Apostle of Jesus Christ, begins his Gospel account focusing on Jesus Christ as the “Word.” The Genesis account of creation is the record of God’s creation through speaking His Word. Out of nothing, at His Word, the various elements of creation were formed. “All things were made through Him” is John’s proclamation! This includes life itself, the living creatures great and small as well as man made in God’s image and likeness. But death came on the scene through man’s disobedience and men were plunged into darkness. But God sent His Son to reveal God’s light and life in each human life: “His life was the Light of men.” Jesus Christ, born of a woman, but the Son of God, reveals grace and truth through the light of His perfectly obedient life. He gave His life to reveal the Father to all in darkness!
Psalm 56:12-13 “I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. In the light of His life, my inner darkness has been revealed and chased away by His glorious Light. You have delivered me from darkness, kept my feet from falling, and enabled me to walk before You in the Light of Life! Use me this day to testify to those still in darkness of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the Light of Life to all mankind!
Proverbs 20:24, 27 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” . . .”The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.”
Jesus–the Light of Life!
Scripture reading for October 26th: Ezekiel 7-9, John 3
John 3:16-20 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the Light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his works should be exposed.”
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, had come to Jesus at night to ask some questions. Jesus spoke plainly to him concerning his need of new birth by faith. He then declared to Nicodemus the path of eternal life–believing on Him! Nicodemus coming to Jesus in darkness to find true ‘light’ is a parabolic story. All mankind is in the dark concerning the Father and eternal life. Sin has darkened each soul. Darkened souls don’t like the light, because it exposes them. They think they can hide in the darkness and continue to do their own things. But God sees it all and has provided a remedy by sending Jesus Christ. Those who believe on Him will escape God’s wrath against sin and find grace and life in the Light.
John 3:35-36 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great love. Thank You that You did not justly condemn me to eternal death under Your wrath but offered Your only Son to take my place and bear the curse of my sins on the cross of Calvary. My prayer today is for each of my family to receive that love through believing in Jesus Christ and living a life of faith and holiness out of honor and respect for all Your love provided.
Ezekiel 8:12-13 “Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, “The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.” He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.””
Light and darkness of soul
Scripture reading for March 17th: Luke 11
Key Scriptures: Luke 11:33-36 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
Jesus used light and darkness often in his teaching. Here he talked about the lighting of a lamp dispelling darkness. He stated that the eye is the lamp of our body and that when the eye is functioning properly, our whole being is flooded with light. When the eye ceases to function, darkness comes over us. Our eye takes light and reveals natural and spiritual truth. If the light coming in is really darkness, we have a big problem. Jesus was talking about deception that brings darkness to the soul from lying spirits of evil. A humble and teachable heart invites Jesus to bring true light into our souls and flood our being with pure light. The entrance of God’s Word brings true light, revealing spiritual truth and exposing deception.
John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Faith confession and prayer: Thank You Jesus that the entrance of Your Word brings light to my soul. Help me to let Your light shine today through my life and testimony, illuminating the darkness of this world. Give me discernment to keep me from deception.
Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of Your Words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
The eye as your lamp!
Scripture reading for July 23rd: 2nd Kings 7-8, 2 Chronicles 21, Matthew 6
Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:21-24 “”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money.””
Our eyes are amazing tools to use to navigate through this life. The eyes depend on light to bring them images of reality in the physical world. If our eyes are healthy, we can see clearly. If our eyes are faulty, our whole body will suffer in darkness. Jesus tied this to money and servitude. Money is a good servant, but a poor master. If we get our vision on serving money instead of serving God, our heart turns against God and our whole being goes into darkness. If we think we are in light but it is really darkness we are in deep trouble! Beware of deception if your eyes are focused on money.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are my treasure here in this life and in Heaven for eternity. In Your mercy, reveal any darkness in my life and thinking.
2nd Chronicles 21:6 “And he (King Jehoram) walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
Walking in the Light!
Scripture reading for November 19th: Ezekiel 17-19, 1st John 1
Key Scriptures: 1st John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Our God is light! In that Light of His awesome holiness, we see no darkness or shadow. So if we claim to have fellowship with Him and continue to walk in darkness, we are a liar about knowing Christ. If we walk in His light, we will have peace with God and this promotes fellowship with other believers. Our walk will show that the blood of Jesus is having its cleansing power in our life.
Ezekiel 18: 21-22 “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all My statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live/ he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your cleansing blood that empowers me to live a life of fellowship with You and others in Your body. Keep me from the deception of sin and unbelief. Amen.
Thankful for Christ’s Light!
FScripture reading for December 5th: Ephesians 4-6, Philippians 1-2
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:11-16 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead; and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
But for God’s grace through Jesus Christ, we would be hopelessly lost in the darkness of sin and the shame of our disobedience. But thanks be to God that through Jesus Christ He wakes those who believe in Him from death and the grave and brings us into His marvelous light! We are awake to Christ, walking in His wisdom and exposing evil in the days before He comes again for us!
Rejoicing in His Light: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)
Check your heart for hatred!
Scripture reading for November 21st: 1st John 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st John 2:9-11 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
The devil is always stirring up emotions in the hearts of mankind. Because of the selfishness of the human heart because of sin, hatred towards one another abounds. Every person is made in the likeness of God and hatred towards another brother or sister is part of the world of darkness. This darkness blinds people and causes them to stumble and fall. Christ’s love alone can cleanse the heart from hatred. Hatred is the precursor of murder!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers guard their hearts against a return of the old nature and its evil desires and emotions of hatred. The live in the Light of Christ’s glory and mercy. “Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.” (Ezekiel 35:11)