Walking In The Light

Jesus spoke to the people . . . and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12

Jesus was walking through the Court of Women during the Feast of Tabernacles when he encountered an angry crowd about to stone a woman accused of adultery. He not only rescued her from certain death but also brought her out of darkness into the light of his truth. Then he called her not to walk in sin or the darkness of secret shame any longer but to walk in the light and freedom. With that instruction, he turned to the people and declared one of the most wonderful promises in the Bible: “I am the light of the world.”

In the Psalms, David spoke of the Lord as his light (see Psalm 27:1). Isaiah 60:1 prophesied that the light would come; the glory of the Lord would shine. As John described it, the glory of the Lord did indeed come in Jesus: “The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out” (John 1:5, The Message).

How wonderful that the promise of God’s light isn’t reserved for just a few people. Everyone is invited to receive his light! In Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, is life, and that life is the light of men and women all over the world. Wherever he went, Christ’s light banished the darkness. Just as Jesus transformed the dire situation of the woman accused of adultery, his light can transform the things that need changing in our lives and families. We are invited to be Christ bearers, to share his light with others, taking hope and peace into a dark world.

Father, thank you for sending your light in Jesus, for lighting up our own dark places and every difficult situation we face. Grant that we would be bearers of your light and so bring encouragement and hope today to someone who needs you.

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way.

“What God Hath Promised” By Annie Johnson Flint(1866–1932), American poet and hymn writer