Tag Archives: Jesus light of the world

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Moonshine

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We had a full moon Sunday night, February 1. I saw the moon outside our window and marveled at the brightness. As I went outside the cold hit me, it was about 16 degrees when I took this picture. The snow was reflecting the light of the moon so it was very bright outside. The silhouette of the bare tree branches and their shadows made a beautiful image.

It was cold yet I was drawn to the silent beauty and lingered outside taking in the brightness of the moon and the shadows created by the shining full moon. The moon has no light source of its own, it is a cold dark rock orbiting around our planet. The moon reflects the light from the sun, which at this full stage of its phases is so bright that it glows. The reflected light spread all around making it seem like day instead of night.

I hear many people saying how “dark” our world seems now. If we read or listen to the news it IS dark in many ways. There are wars and rumors of war. There is violence and rebellion all over the world and even within our very own nation. I won’t dwell on the darkness except to acknowledge that it is evident if we open our eyes.

Jesus came to earth in a time full of darkness. The Roman empire controlled Palestine as part of the vast area under its domain. Roman soldiers would do as they pleased to maintain their authority and everyone lived in fear. We may feel our world is a fearful place now and it certainly is for many people. Sin always results in darkness. In John chapter 8 Jesus has just been confronted by the Pharisees who challenged with his authority. Jesus has been teaching and spreading a message of hope and redemption.

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more 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 came to bring LIGHT into the darkness. Jesus is the source of the Light. In the passage of Scripture we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers that they are the Light of the world. Just as Jesus shines in the darkness of this world, when we become followers of Jesus, he shines his light through us. Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

That beautiful moon has no light source of its own – it reflects the light of the sun. We humans have no light source of our own – we reflect the Light of the Son – Jesus, when we accept him as Savior and Lord. We must let our Light shine in the darkness of our world knowing as John says in John 1 – ” 4 The Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.“

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!

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Fear

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Fear is darkness.

Have you ever woken up at night and fearful thoughts start running through your head? Those thoughts tend to multiply and sometimes become overwhelming. The fear grips us in a mental, emotional and even physical way. The darkness becomes even darker.

I remember vividly a time soon after the birth of our first child when fear gripped me in this way. Phil was late getting home from a trip (before cell phones!) (although that might not have made a difference since Phil’s cell phone is most often on his dresser – turned off!) and I became consumed with fear. My mind went wild as I planned his funeral, planned how I was going to live as a widow, and raise our little boy without his father. The more I thought, the worse those thoughts became. The darkness became darker!

When he walked in the door, I was an emotional mess!

Yet we may have those same fearful thoughts in the midst of the day and they don’t seem quite as terrible.

Why?

It is the LIGHT of day.

We see things more clearly.

Jesus says in John 8:12 –

12 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.”

John explains the blessing of recognizing Jesus as the Light and following Him.  – I John 1:7

7 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, purifies us from all sin.

Fear is darkness.

Faith is light.

As we allow the Light of Jesus to enter our minds and hearts we will have faith. Just as turning on a light in a dark room reveals where things are located so we don’t stumble and fall, the Light of God’s word illuminates our daily path as we follow Him.

Psalm 119:105 says –

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.

When our children are fearful we need to share this truth with them as well. I memorized this verse from Psalms as a child and it still reminds me to follow the light of faith, not the darkness of fear.

There is so much to be concerned about in our world today. We must not let the darkness close in. Fear of the future can have a paralyzing effect on our lives. We should be examples of hope by our words and deeds.

We can choose to walk in the Light!