April 27, 2024

Follow the Light

SeekingHimLogo

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.

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Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I AM the Light of the world.
Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness
but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12

God makes a lot of promises and (unlike human promises) He keeps each one.  God created the very things we need to sustain physical life.  We find our purpose in this God.  We are meant to live our lives for this God.  Everything we are, and everything we will be, should be for Him and His glory.

The Bible is about this God we don’t see, but Who we can know oh, so intimately.  We have the privilege of getting to know the Creator of the world.  He tells us very clearly all about Himself in His “I AM” statements.  Thankfully, we don’t have to guess about the Lord of all Creation.

Jesus said He is the Light of the World.  Light emphasizes the details of things and promotes clarity.  We spend a majority of our time in the light.  During the day we have the sun, during the night we have electricity.  Most people don’t just sit in the dark.  If they do, typically something is wrong.  I don’t like the light when I have a migraine because it’s too bright and makes the pain worse.  When people are sad or depressed you might find them sitting in the dark.  People refer to bad times as “dark times.”

Light is important to us.  Jesus said He is the Light of the World. Therefore, Jesus is important to us; especially when it comes to navigating this dark world.  We do not have to aimlessly wonder around the world, merely existing and lost.  God will show us what we need to do.  God will show us where we need to be.  The key is to follow Him.  If God goes left and we go right, are we really following Him?  No.  Therefore, if He is not in the lead, then our Light is not in front of us, we cannot see.  We must face the Light at all times, and stay with Him for the Light to be of use to us.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

We have no reason to wander.  No reason to be scared.  With one simple action we can help ourselves.  Follow the Light.  He will lead you.

Jesus is the Light

SeekingHimLogo

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.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I AM the Light of the world.
Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness
but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12

Jesus had just finished speaking to the crowd about the woman caught in adultery. He knew that the Pharisees were always looking for a way to trap Him and wanted to find a way to discredit Him before the people.  Only Jesus knew what they were trying to do.

Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is given wisdom to know what is going on.  While on earth, Jesus wanted to teach His people all that He could in the short time He was here. He knew how burdensome the Pharisees, Saducees and Scribes would make life to live.  With all of the man-made rules on top of what was in the Old Testament, it was such a burden for the people at Jesus’ time.

Now Jesus spoke about the ‘yoke’ the rulers and lawyers had created for the people.  God, as always, sees and hears about our lives here on earth, that is why He sent His Son Jesus when He did. He knew then was the right time for His Son to liberate His chosen people.  And also, when they did not receive, then it was time for the Gentiles to hear and receive the wonderful news about Jesus.

Always know that God is watchful over us. He knows our comings and goings, He knows our needs now, just as then. He will always be a Light to us in our world. When we seek His ways and obey His words we will have Light in all areas of our minds. We will never have those dark places unless we let it back in.

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Father, help us keep our focus on You. We want to have Your Light in our hearts at all times. Help us know how to keep Your Light within us, not focus on the darkness. Bring into our lives those that You know will help us to seek You more.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Light of Lights

SeekingHimLogo

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.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the Light of the world.
Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness
but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12 HCSB

“The visible light of the world is the sun and Christ is the Sun of Righteousness. One sun enlightens the whole world.”
– Charles Spurgeon

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines light as “the form of energy that makes it possible to see things.” Isn’t that an appropriate description of Christ?  He lights up our lives with truth and grace.

One of the most important symbols of light in the Old Testament is the pillar of fire.  The pillar of fire is mentioned in Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Nehemiah, Psalms and Revelations.

Nehemiah 9:12 (NASB) states:

…with a pillar of fire by night to light for them the way in which they were to go.

That is what Christ does for us, He illuminates the way for us to go…IF we choose to follow. I love how John 12:46 (NLT) puts it:

“I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world,
so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.”

We do not have to remain in the dark!  When we choose to trust Christ, the darkness must flee. It is our choice whether or not we continue in darkness.

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Lord, thank You for illuminating my world with Your Light.  Help me to clearly see the path You have lit up for me.  Remind me I no longer have to remain in the dark.  I can remain in You instead. In Your name I pray – Amen, it is so!

Eternal Flashlight

SeekingHimLogo

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.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, 
He said, I AM the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,
But will have the Light of Life.
John 8:12

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Yesterday when I took my son to the doctor, we had to wait in the exam room for a little bit to see the doctor.  We had taken his backpack into the doctor’s office so we could work on his homework and get it finished.  We reached a stopping point because we did not have a pencil.  So, while we waiting, I read a book to him.

It happened to be a Scooby-Doo book.  This story focused on Scooby and Shaggy surviving a storm.  The window is blown open; it is dark because the power has gone out; and the shadows make them think that a monster is in the house.  The rest of the gang return from the store just as the power comes back on.  Light flows through the house.  Velma, Daphne, and Fred show that the window was blown open, and that a lamp was the supposed monster.

This made me think about Jesus…. Like Scooby and Shaggy were surviving in the dark, we are living and surviving in a dark world.  Our world is plunging into chaos as Christians are persecuted and killed in other parts of the world.  Morals are being thrown to the wayside by those who do not believe in Judeo-Christian values.  We are slowly but surely moving toward Jesus’ return.

When we accept Christ into our lives, the light is turned on for us.  We are brought out from the darkness and into the Light of Jesus.  When we decide to follow Jesus, we are no longer in the dark but are walking in the Light.  Jesus’s Light is eternal and ever-present in those who have accepted Him.  As long as we follow His Light, we will be healed and comforted.  We will not walk in darkness.  We will have life.

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Dear Heavenly Father: Thank You for giving us the Light.  We do not have to live in the dark if we receive this Light.  It is due to Your saving grace that we are no longer living in darkness.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(You Are) The Light Of The World

SeekingHimLogo

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