Our aim is to help others and continue ourselves to
“walk in the light.
John 8:12 (ESV) 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.”
If you have ever experienced first hand the torching of a human life, as someone you know and love self-destructs before your very eyes. You hurt for them. You may not be able to understand why they can’t see what they are doing to themselves and those who love them. Carol and I have witnessed some of these tragic, self-destructive lives, and our hearts were broken as we had to watch them walk in darkness and feel the end of their choice. But then…..
We have also seen many more examples of folks who make it! They see the light that God is shining on them, His truth, and they choose that truth and find freedom and true happiness in their relationships with Christ Jesus and with others. They learn, as we must, to walk in the light. Jesus promised that walking in His light keeps us from being overtaken by the darkness…from choosing self-destruction through ignorance or naivety or foolishness. What wonderful miracles Jesus has done and still does.
Walking in the light comes in three general forms – as I see it.
- Walk in the light of fresh encounters with Jesus in prayer, quiet, worship, service, and at times least expected. When your mind and heart join your spirit in worship and awe, reverence and closeness, you know that God IS because you were just with Him.
- Walking in the light comes when we know and do God’s Word. When we are tempted to choose unwisely, but at the last minute we remember truth and we choose God’s opinion and Word. The contrast of choosing light over darkness is palpable.
- And we walk in the light when we have true connected fellowship and friendship with another follower of Christ and are encouraged, understood, cherished, respected. Feeling the love of Jesus from another who is simply giving us the love they received from God helps us to be happy we walked in the light. Those times of walking in the light are indicative of what the church of the Lord Jesus is to experience while we are here.
Would you pray that this week you will walk in the light of fresh encounters with Jesus, of actively doing God’s Word, and of fellowship with another believer (starting at home if possible)?
How about being the person who offers to be a friend and a good listener? What if you pray for others whether they know it or not? Be on the look out for chances to walk in God’s light and be so consumed in His light that darkness has no appeal at all.