As the daylight hours are reducing more and more, you see fewer people on the streets in the evenings. Waking up in the mornings becomes even more of a challenge. There’s something about light that brings about activity, life, a buzz. Light wakes us up and darkness reminds us of the need to stop, wind down and fall into a lifeless state (Sleep). Jesus says I AM the light of the world; He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
Remember who you follow in this season when many are preparing to celebrate the things of darkness (Halloween). Let your light shine in the midst of your world so that our world will be awakened to Him.
A light in the dark
Just imagine for a second that you’re little again, (I know I know but just go with me) it’s the middle of the night you’ve had a bad dream and it’s pitch black. Do you remember that frozen in fear feeling, that can’t move, pinned to the bed, won’t even turnover kind of scared? Now, remember that sense of relief and peace that came over you when someone turned on the light. Even the tiniest of night lights could bring so much comfort! Now imagine (stick with me!) that you’re back to your current age, you’ve just heard some really bad news, or there’s been a stressful situation at work, something that brings that same kind of terror as when you were little frozen in fear. What do we know? There’s no night light to reach for, no one to come and turn our bedroom light on. Or is there… Jesus, just speaking that name into the middle of the terror, it’s exactly like turning on that nightlight and realising you’re ok. Jesus is far bigger and far brighter than any terror or darkness we could face and He has made that light available to us all. I pray today that if you are gripped in fear or stress or anxiety that Jesus would come and turn on the light
A light in the dark
Jesus points out that if one walks in darkness, they will stumble (as well as treading on lego bricks or other discomforts). If our actions and thoughts are such that we wish to hide them, we will similarly have problems. But He is the true light that gives light to everyone – if we come to Him, He will give light to our path.
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, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
A light in the dark
I’ve often heard it said that Light overcomes the darkness, but is that really true? If I shine a torch into a dark area, yes the darkness disappears. However what if that torch runs out of battery or wind comes and the fire goes out? Light does overcome darkness but what if the source of light fails? If it was down to my strength alone I think I would be seriously concerned about the darkness. Luckily, for those who believe in Christ, the truest of Lights that source of light is eternal, it is unchangeable and indestructible and it’s that sources that I refuel my light from. So really the darkness doesn’t stand a chance.
“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.” John 8.12
A fresh start
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
God hates sin. We all have sinned. What a wonderful saviour we have that he made a way for us to have a fresh start when we come to him with repenting hearts, asking for forgiveness.
A break is good for you
No one wants to take a break in the rain, we seek sunshine and warmth, sun-seekers fly miles to find it. As we seek the Son remember that he is also seeking us. In Luke 19 v 10 Jesus says “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” And 1 Chronicles 28 v 9 “If you seek him, he will be found by you;” It is not the Son who is lost but you, take a break from hiding, let him find you and you will find him.
A break is good for you
Taking a break mean different things to different people, for some it’s experiencing new places, new sports or activities and for others it’s getting away from it all and experiencing peace and rest. Jesus said to us “come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28-29. Learn from Jesus, unburden yourself in prayer rather than trying to deal with your worries and burdens in your own strength.
A break is good for you
It is good to take a break, often we are far too busy. Along with busyness comes the fearful and anxious thoughts we hold onto. It’s been stated that we have upwards of 50,000 thoughts a day. Those thoughts aren’t always pretty. They often tell us we’re no good, we’re unlovable, we’re failures or frauds. We must learn to tell our fearful and anxious thoughts to shut up, just as Jesus calmed the sea: “Quiet, be still!” Mark 4:39. The world asks us to be busy. God asks us to be still so that we can receive love, peace, and guidance.
Be still and know I am God
Being still can seem wrong to us sometimes, but shouldn’t I be reading my Bible? Shouldn’t I be praying for others? Shouldn’t I be doing good works? It seems wrong because all of these things are good, they are things we know we should be doing. But sometimes Jesus asks us to stop and stand still, because it’s never anything that we do that accomplishes the will of God, it’s Jesus and what he’s done. So being still may feel uncomfortable or unnatural but it is meant to remind us of who is really in control, and re-centre us on the reason we do all of these things in the first place.
Be still and know I am God
Jesus calmed the storm, He spoke to the wind and the waves and told them to “be still.” He spoke to the Israelites in the throes of battle and told them to “be still, I will fight for you.” When his people were in exile he told them to “be still” because he was coming. It seems that when we would think of doing anything other than being still that is exactly what God asks us to do. In the face of terrifying circumstances, we are often told to be still and know. God loves to make order out of chaos so in the swirling of the danger, let God speak over you, “Be still” and He will fight for you.
Thought for the Week 