God Is Light
By Rachel Wright
“‘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
Have you ever been scared of the dark? I know I have! If not, maybe instead of the fear of the darkness itself, you’ve been scared of what lurks in the dark. When you’re outside in the dark of the night without a light to guide the way, your perception is dimmed and you can’t see the tree root that will soon trip you, or the spiders crawling near your feet, or the coyote watching you from the bushes.
It is natural to be afraid in the dark and it is even expected, but everything changes when you have a flashlight. With even the smallest of lights, your fear diminishes because you are able to see what is around you more clearly. Just like walking in the dark is a terrifying experience, it is even more terrifying to live in this world without the light of the world – Jesus.
Let’s face it: the world is a dark place. There are sad things that happen, hardships that we face, crimes that are committed, and there is sin in every single person on the earth! The good news is that this is NOT how God intended the world to be. He knows that we need a light – something to illuminate the dark world. And like the loving Father that He is, God has already provided for this need. Jesus is the light that we need! He illuminates the darkness and clears up our understanding of what the darkness really is. When we let Jesus illuminate our life, we see not only the brokenness of the world, but also the brokenness of ourselves. We see our need for Him.
READ (Grab Your Bible)
Read Matthew 5:14-17 a couple of times. Now, grab a sticky note or a piece of paper and write it out in full so that you can easily post it somewhere you will see often as a reminder of your calling as a Christ-follower.
Next, read 1 John 1:5-10 at least twice through in its entirety. Underline any repeated words, phrases, or ideas. Write down any notes, questions, or observations that you have as you go through the 2nd time.
REFLECT (Grab Your Journal & A Pen!)
What does it mean that “God is light?”
What does it mean to “walk in the light?” And what does it look like practically for someone to be “walking in the light?” How do you plan to live out your faith this week and walk in the light?
Do you believe that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior? Why?
How can we be saved from our sins and become “purified from all unrighteousness?”
Do you trust that God forgives ALL your sins when you confess?
Search your heart–Are you living a double life? E.g. being a “good Christian” at church and then living for the world when you are anywhere else?