Walk in the Light

Walk in the Light

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each weekday morning, we’re going to spend a few minutes in a passage in John. Here’s the goal: read it, pray it, share it. Every post will have a passage of Scripture, a short prayer, and a question to meditate on and talk about. In a few minutes every day, we can prepare our hearts for all that God has planned in this season of Lent.

Read: John 8:12-20
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.” [13] So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” [14] Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. [15] You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. [16] Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. [17] In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. [18] I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” [19] They said to him, therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” [20] These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (ESV)

C.S. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” This is the kind of illumination Jesus provides. Not only is he light, he provides light so that we can see everything more clearly. By following him, we see our sin for what it is and we see that there’s a solution. We see that death is not the end, but the point at which eternity with God begins. We see our suffering brings about God’s purposes; hope, endurance, faith, and whole-hearted devotion. We see our lives as something to lay down for others. We see our gifts and talents and things to use for the building up of the church. We see other people as trophies of the grace of God and partners in our walk with Christ.

Jesus shines forth to illuminate the world around us and the nature inside of us. We don’t see ourselves clearly until we look at him. It can be scary to walk in the light. It means we have to be vulnerable with God and others. It means there’s no hiding anymore. But the light heals, corrects, warms, reveals, and gives life. It’s where we find our Savior and our Father. In the end, it’s where we were made to be. 

Pray:
God, remind me of the joy I feel when I walk in the light. Make my relationship with you worth more than anything darkness has to offer. Show me who you created me to be, where I need to repent, and where I need to be healed. Light up my world with your Spirit so that I can see things the way you do. Amen.

Share:
Jesus makes a link between light and judgment. What do you think he’s saying? What are the implications for the Pharisees?

Can you think of a time when you walked in the light and it was difficult at the time but live-giving in the long run? Do you know anyone you can share this moment with?