Light bright

My husband wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for work. He turns on the lamp on the dresser so he can see to get dressed. I instinctively roll over away from the light so that it doesn't wake me up, because I'm not due to get up for another hour.

Light illuminates. Light helps us to see in the dark - a flashlight, a candle or a streetlight.  Light attracts us to things - like a neon sign on a building, or like the mosquito to the bug light. Light is also used for medicinal purposes, like for the baby with jaundice or for people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

In John 8:12, Jesus proclaims that He is the light of the world.  And just like I roll over away from the lamp at 4:30 a.m., people turn away from Jesus' light.  The light of Jesus exposes them for what they really are - sinners.  Jesus' light floods the darkness in their souls. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:19-20:  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."

Jesus' light is the only light that can cleanse the soul of its darkness.  But Jesus' light is not scary; it's warm and loving.  Jesus' blood covers all sins, and His light transforms us and makes us new creations.  Oh friend, do not be frightened of Jesus' light.  It may shine into the dark corners of your soul and expose your deepest sins and dark desires, but Jesus longs to shine the light of His salvation into you and save you.  He longs to use His light to remove the darkness from your soul.  If you haven't put your trust in Jesus for the salvation of your soul, you can do that right now.  All you have to do is tell Jesus that you're sorry for all the sins you've committed, ask Him to flood your dark soul with His light, and tell Him that you're going to live for Him for the rest of your life.  Then He will come and live in your soul, and make you a new creation in Him. 


That's all for tonight.  See you again soon!

Diane

Help wanted

Job requirements:

• Born again believer in Jesus
• A heart for the lost
• Knowledge that God is with you no matter what
• Knowledge of the Gospel
• Boldness

Compensation:  None on Earth, but a "well done, faithful servant" from the Savior in Heaven.

Did you know that Jesus has a job for us to do?  That is, in addition to reading our Bibles, living by His laws, worshiping Him and serving others?  Our job is to go out and spread the Gospel to the world.  It's more commonly known as the Great Commission.  It can be found in Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV translation throughout):

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." 

Now some would argue that the Great Commission was only for the disciples, but if that were the case, the Christian faith would have died out after the disciples' converts died.  Paul said in Romans 10:14-15, 17:  "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'. . . So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

In order for the lost to hear about Jesus, someone has to tell them.  Jesus has commanded it.  Paul reiterates it.  It's up to us to do it.  So how do we tell the lost about Jesus? Some people use tracts.  Other people use the Way of the Master method and are street evangelists.  Some people strike up conversations with co-workers or strangers on the bus.

"But Diane," you say (maybe even whining), "I don't want to go to the jungle to evangelize the natives."  Not all of us are called to do that.  There are other mission fields, and lots of them are close to home.  Your own family can be your mission field.  My own husband is not yet saved.  My teenage son is saved, but he's a backslider.  None of my in-laws are born-again Christians.  You may live in a neighborhood where you are the only Christian.  Befriend your neighbors and share the Gospel with them.  Invite them to church on Sunday morning or to a special event at your church. 

So pray to the Lord to show you what you can do to spread the Gospel.  It's our job to do it.  Pray for courage and boldness to spread the Gospel.  And after you've spread the Good News, post your results in a comment so everyone can see it and rejoice. 

Thanks for reading!  See you again soon!

Diane