December 23, 2024

(You Are) The Light Of The World

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Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Door
I AM The Resurrection and the Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM. The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead. We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them. And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd.
He said, I AM the Light of the world.
He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark,
But will have the Light which is Life.
John 8:12

You called me in to Your glorious light
I will not fear ’cause I’m walking with You and talking with You
From Heaven You came to show me life

You are the Light of the world
You are the Light of my life
Hope of the earth, my Jesus

I’m gonna be a light and let it shine
Be a light and let it shine
I’m gonna be a light and let it shine
Be a light and let it shine

As Long as I’m Alive I’ll Glorify His holy Name

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Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Praise His holy Name!  As long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no bird gonna flap it’s feathers…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no tree gonna wave its branches…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive, I’ll glorify His holy Name

~  performed by Hillsong Kids; written by LaMarquis Jefferson~

Is this your declaration too?  Do you make sure that you are the one praising God and thanking Him for the grace and mercy He showers upon your life?

Jesus made it clear and simple. Luke chapter 19 contains this record of Jesus’ ascent and entry into Jerusalem. This occurs during the week prior to His betrayal, arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion, and ultimately, His death. During this time, His disciples were openly recognizing Him as King and praising God for the miracles which Jesus had done.

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices
for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:36-40

As Jesus traveled along, making His way into Jerusalem, this continued…praising and shouting out…to the point that the Jewish leaders told Him to hush His disciples. But Jesus, knowing that no matter what, God was going to be praised, responded that even if His disciples were to be quiet, “…the stones will cry out!” God will be praised!

Throughout the Book of Psalms, the writers of the psalms spoke the same truth. They knew that praise was intrinsically built in to all nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.
There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.
Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.
Psalms 19:1-4

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above.
Praise Him, all his angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars.
Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away.”
Psalms 148:1-6

Job knew, too. He spoke these words.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10

He clearly let it be known that the animals, the birds, the fish along with the plants and trees know about their Creator…AND…declare it, too! So, we have no excuse! Let your praise be loud…and let it be long! Don’t hide it…don’t avoid the many, many, many opportunities that you have to teach and tell about all God has done! And, for God’s glory, don’t let the rocks and the birds, and the trees speak for you!  As long as you are alive…glorify His holy Name!