Light

November 29

Hosea 6-7

Psalm 134

Proverbs 28:16-17

1 John 1

Light

“And this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not do the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:5-7  LSB

The world around us is getting darker and darker.  Satan and his demonic forces are working overtime.  They see the day of the Lord approaching just as we do.  They have always been around doing their evil work behind the scenes.  Nothing is new under the sun.  Satan doesn’t have any new tricks.  He is using the same lies he has used for centuries because they work.  The thing that has changed is that he is getting bolder and the evil is no longer hidden.  We are told that in the last days good will be called evil and evil will be called good.  Does that sound familiar?  The Bible is being declared to be hate speech.  Homosexual and transsexual behavior is called good and those who speak out against it are bad.  The murdering of innocent babies is good and those who try to ban abortions are bad.  Men competing in women’s sports is celebrated as good while girls who speak out against it are intolerant and bad.  Terrorists who murder, rape and kidnap innocent Israelis are championed, while Israel is bad because it chooses to defend itself.  I could go on and on with examples.  We are living in a very dark world. 

In the last several months, I have been horrified by the stories coming out on the news of human trafficking, sexual abuse, deception, and scandals in government and even in the church.  It has been going on for a long time, but God is removing the veil and exposing the darkness.  While it is disturbing, I am glad it is being revealed and the evil can no longer hide in the shadows.  I pray that justice is served and those who are guilty of evil and deceit will be punished, no matter who they are.  As believers, we are expected to shine the light of Jesus in this dark world.  We are to live lives that are above reproach.  Our words and actions should reflect His light.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 LSB   “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 LSB   We must be willing to speak the truth in love.  It is not loving to condone sin.  We must speak with a humble and loving heart and not with condemnation and hate, but we have to be willing to boldly call out Satan’s lies exposing the darkness.  The closer we draw to God the more of His light will shine through us.