Deliverance from Darkness
Good Morning Friends,
Sometimes as a child I would get under the covers at night and read books by flashlight. Some of that experience reminds me of what I am perceiving writing this devotional in the dark in front of the light of my computer this very moment. One becomes covered in a blanket of darkness, a cover for a soul in need of healing… There is a focus but also a difficulty if my fingers stray on the keyboard forcing me to search in the dark for the right key.
Staring into the light impairs the sight of other things. I look out and initially see the after image of my computer screen…blinded. Only when I stop staring into the light do my eyes adjust. Then I see the light that permeates the world as I make the correction, with thanks for the Deliverance from Darkness.
Scripture: Jesus [said], “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NRSV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:1-5 (NRSV)
Message: In today’s world of darkness there is a need to shed light. The world is a dark place. But something perhaps imprinted on the genetic memory of my ancestors as they told stories around a fire ring and walked at night in the starlight keeps me in the habit of writing this way. It connects me to a past that focuses my vision on a brighter future. As Christians, though, we are to shine the light of Jesus. The problem is shining the light into one’s own or another’s eyes. Still I have the hope that, if I just keep typing, in time the sun will come up. I guess I could just turn on the ceiling light. But spiritual darkness is not the same as physical darkness. One is evil and the other is not. Shining a light on everything misses the purpose. Maybe the lesson learned is that we need to shine our light much like I write this devotional…one keystroke at a time… Much like the faithfulness of lighting a candle shared with another.
Pray when we are surrounded by darkness we are not of the darkness. Pray the light of Christ shines out from us. Pray we shine where God says to shine. Pray we not hide our light. Pray we become a reflection of the light of Jesus. Pray we witness to a light that was before the creation and shines bright even today. Pray we experience the grace of the life of the light in Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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