JESUS, THE LIGHT OF ALL WORLDS [Part I]

April 14th, 2023

SCRIPTURE: “GOD IS LIGHT, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
“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 by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men... AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US, and we beheld His glory, glory as of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN FROM THE FATHER, full of grace and truth.” [ John 1: 1-4, 14]
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and THE SPIRIT OF GOD was moving over the surface of the waters. Then GOD SAID, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT' and there was light.” [ Genesis 1: 1-3]
“ But if the SPIRIT OF GOD who raised JESUS from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through HIS SPIRIT who indwells you. THE SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God... “ [Romans 8: 11, 16]
"...and the life was the light of men..."

All of us have our own lives, 'likes,’ and lifestyles, as well as world views, subject to evolving as we
learn things through experiences, study, and observation. One could figuratively say that this makes up our 'world,’ that which we embrace as a personal reality in private, as well as in public. And being students in this life, being imperfect, there are things we hold onto rightly, as well as wrongly, with the hope that we grow upon that which is trustworthy. We sincerely, though sometimes sleepily, hope as Christians to receive as fully as possible that which God is revealing and purposing to us, for our sakes, and more broadly for the sakes of others with whom we are interdependent.

Paul states it well: “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” [Romans 7:19] [sins of omission and of commission] “He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness when we earnestly confess our sins.” [ 1 John 1:9]

Praise be to God that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set [us] free... that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! [from Romans 8] Upon this, our purposing must be godly, of the Spirit, and should we 'be of good courage,’ then we will
let our light shine before all men, see that when they see our good works they will glorify our heavenly Father.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, enlarge our trust and our hope that we, with all diligence, share your gift of life and light, that we sow the gospel message with love. Amen.
By Bro. Brockington