2 Minutes of Hope March 29, 2021
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” - John 3:19-20 NKJV
I love thinking about Jesus as the light of the world (John 8:12).
It’s such a practical, yet powerful illustration of the unchangeable identity of our Creator. Our Savior isn’t the type of light that is set on a dimmer. There’s no amount of personal preference, opinion or ideals that can change the intensity of His shine.
He is light and in this light, no darkness can exist. Shadows can run, but they cannot hide. And the longer you are in the light, the more intense you can feel it’s shine.
We as believers are called to be mirrors, reflectors of this very light, and even carriers of it ourselves. Through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to be a beacon of light to those who are still in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16) drawing them in and calling them home.
But being a light in a very dark world is not always the easiest thing to do. Have you ever noticed that it’s a lot easier for your eyes to adjust to darkness than it is for them to adjust to light?
Imagine walking into a room where someone has been sitting in darkness for a long time. As you open the door, the first traces of light begin to creep in and they are instantly exposed. Their eyes cringe, they try to cover their face, there is discomfort in this suddenly bright environment that feels like all too much all at once. It’s a change that demands an instant response. Either you shy away or you choose to adjust.
Every day we have a choice. We can either be lovers of evil or carriers of light. Choosing the former means living in darkness while choosing the latter means disrupting every environment you walk in to.
Be encouraged today in knowing that your choice to be light is the very choice that this very dark world needs. It might not always be able to accept or appreciate your shine, but it needs it more than it will ever know. So please, please, please do not dim your shine! Walk confidently into every room and light it up with the love of Christ. Because life’s too short to let this world dim your shine.
Let's Pray...
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for being an unchanging source of truth, hope and love. Thank you for your grace and your mercy as we choose to live our lives fully committed and surrendered to you. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, as the light of the world. Thank you for gifting us with the power of your Holy Spirit to be able to bring this light to others.
As I go into this week Lord, grant me the strength and the boldness to shine this light on every single dark corner of every single room that you call me into. Give me the courage to shine unapologetically the way that Jesus shines. Let me be a beautiful representation of what it means to follow You so that I can create a path that leads those in darkness to rest in the peace of your light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.