Thy Word is a Light

Light Day 6: Psalm 119:105-112

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Today we approach the specifics of the daily process of abiding in the Light. Certainly Jesus Christ is the Light that dwells in us – but what does that look like in our daily experience?

Psalm 119 is filled with the answer – stated specifically here in verse 105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

A familiar verse – but what does it mean, and how does it shed light on how we walk in the light in our lives?

Abiding in the light means remaining in the Word. Even a single thoughtful read-through of Psalm 119 should quickly confirm that it isn’t just enough to read the Bible, study the Bible, or even memorize the Bible – though all of these are certainly necessary and immensely beneficial to our walk with God. Read more

I Am Come A Light

Light Day 5: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. ~ John 12:44-50

If your life or daily walk is characterized by darkness – confusion, indecision, negativity, fear, hatred, selfishness, pride, apathy, depression, and so forth – it’s by your own choice.

“What?” you might say. “I certainly don’t choose to live in in darkness. I’m trying my best to avoid these things, but sometimes life happens.”

That’s what Jesus said.

Wait on the Lord – Part 2

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Isaiah 40:30–31)

In part one of this post, I talked about how we need God for everything in life. The line of the song Jesus loves me is very true: “[We] are weak, but He is strong!”

When God created Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, how did He intend them to live? He did not make them strong in themselves and then they became weak when they sinned. Quite the opposite – God created them utterly weak and helpless in themselves so that they could depend entirely on Him. When they took their eyes off their Creator and began to trust in their own ability, that is when were conquered by sin and fell from their relationship with God.

What should our response be? The fact that we are weak is not a problem for God – it is actually the way that we were designed to be.

Jesus said “…without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Waiting on the Lord is being bound as one with Him. The Hebrew word translated as “wait” means “to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect.” (Strong’s Concordance)

On our own, we faint and grow weary. If we are joined to the all-powerful Creator of the universe, our strength is transformed into the very ability of God!

Let us press on the know the Lord. Then His power will work in us to accomplish through us all He desires for us and those around us!

Light is With You

Day 4: John 12:30-36

Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. ~ John 12:30-36

One truth is clear: we need Jesus for light. He is light; without Him, there is no light.

No wonder darkness quite literally descended upon the earth during daytime at His death! No wonder the very earth shook. No wonder the sun was darkened. No wonder the disciples were fearful and overwhelmed by grief. The very Light of the World had been put out.

Who could believe in the light while darkness overshadowed the earth?

But this wasn’t the end.

Your Life Shall See The Light

Light Day 3: Job 33:23-28

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. ~ Job 33:23-28

This passage is a beautiful prophetic description of the peacemaking work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the “one mediator between God and men” (I Timothy 2:5). He is the messenger, the interpreter, the “one among a thousand” – the only one who can show man his uprightness because He Himself is the proof of the righteousness which He imputed to man through His death and resurrection. By His atoning and redeeming death, taking every shred of our unrighteousness upon Himself, He is able to stand before His Father on our behalf and truly say, “Deliver this person from death, from hell, from separation, from the world, from the flesh, from himself and his own miserable wallowing selfish life, because I have found a ransom. I am the ransom.” Then He speaks over us words of truth – words describing who we already are in the kingdom of God, words that as He speaks them will transform into reality in the physical realm of our lives – words of restoration: restored life, restored vigor, restored hope, restored purpose – all because of restored relationship and favor with God through Christ. Now, through our Mediator and Redeemer, we are transformed from misery, pain, and death to taking on our identity as Joy and Righteousness!

In His Light We See Light

Light Day 2: Psalm 36:1-9

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. ~ Psalm 36:1-9

This passage gives a striking contrast: the lifestyle of the sinner and the goodness of God. Our sinful flesh inclines to lifting up ourselves: flattering ourselves, not fearing God because we think we’re good enough, walking in our own self-will and iniquity, speaking only to forward our personal goals, walking in fleshly wisdom and goodness instead of true wisdom and goodness, making plans to forward our selfish desires, pursuing fleshly dreams, and becoming desensitized to evil.

Yet if only we would continually fix our eyes upon our mighty God, we would see such a different picture, one both refreshing and empowering. Read more

That Was the True Light

The first recorded words out of the mouth of God were “Let there be light.” The first creative act of God was the creation of light. The first entity in existence on earth other than God Himself was light. Throughout Scripture, light continues to be a key theme.

This month I’m participating in a Bible reading and meditation challenge on The Light. I’d like to invite you to come along for the ride as we more intimately know Jesus Christ as our Light.

Why is His name, The Light, so significant? How do we abide in His light? How do we receive His light? How do we practically walk in The Light even during struggles and trials? And how do we reflect His light to others? Read more

Wait on the Lord – Part 1

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

(Isaiah 40:28–29)

“If we just believe in ourselves and persevere through difficulties, there is nothing we cannot achieve!” Maybe we all don’t consciously think this, but our actions can show that in some areas we believe this.

What is God’s perspective? He is the everlasting God and He created everything with the word of His mouth. His power and ability is limitless. Do you know Him? Have you heard Him?

Here’s one thing you should know: God never gets tired. He has infinite power and strength.

Here’s another thing you should know: Read more

The Goals the World Got Right

Did you know God wants you to pursue advancement, riches, and power?

Did you know that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit in order to guide us into all of the truth of this advancement, riches, and power?

Did you know the Holy Spirit desires to work in you advancement, riches, and power every day?

As beings created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27, 9:6), even in our fallen fleshly state we retain some characteristics patterned in us by His image. Even though the devil loves to corrupt, he cannot create; he can only take the image of God within us and try to twist it according to his purposes. Read more

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