Today’s Reading: John 3:16-21 (NIV)
[Jesus said,] 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that His deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what He has done has been done through God.”
Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)
Good day!
Today is a great day to count the miracles in your life! Many of us can quickly revisit the struggles and problems we encountered yesterday. It is human nature to remember difficult moments, while shoving little rays of light underneath our mind’s floor mat. Do you find yourself focusing on the problems that distress you more than the things that bring great joy to your heart?
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he knew this man was yearning to understand and accept God’s Word. He wanted to know the truth, and Jesus spoke the truth in no uncertain terms. How would Nicodemus recognize the truth? Jesus simply said, “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what He has done has been done through God.”
The truth presents itself, plain as day, and we miss it! We are so caught up in the evil that surrounds us that we forget to see the good. We really want to see it, but often, we don’t know where to look. Our culture is entrenched in darkness. We are plagued by holy wars, sicknesses, poverty, intrinsic evils of murder, incest, lying, cheating, stealing, and the aftermath of those caught in the wake of catastrophic natural disasters. It is hard to see the good when suffering surrounds us like a thick blanket of darkness. It can block the light of His Truth, if we let it. When we look beyond the struggle and begin to see the truth for who He really is, the darkness begins to fade away until the light overshadows it completely.
This is why Christ came. He is the Truth. He is the Light. He came to offer hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, love to the unloved, and peace to those who find themselves at war. He calls humanity to emerge from the darkness and follow Him into everlasting light. When we choose to live by the Truth, we come into His light, and that light will dispel the darkness once and for all.
There is no greater welcome than the welcome we receive when we choose to place our faith on the rock solid foundation of Jesus Christ. You are invited today to set aside the darkness in your life, and come into His light. Count your miracles! Jesus gave Himself willingly so that you might receive abundant life today and eternal life for all your tomorrows. That is the greatest miracle of all! Take a look at what God has given you through the Son. How will He use you to shed a little light in the dark today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC -
Help me to carry Your light into the world today, dear Lord. Amen.
___________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
