Daily Devotions
The Light of the World
Title: The Light of the World
Reading for January 1: Genesis 1-4
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Genesis 1:3
We live in a dark world. The first chapter of Romans describes the Roman world as full of "envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31).
Does this not describe our world pretty well? It does, and not just out there in "the world." Sadly, I see almost all of these characteristics in one form or another in myself.
But thanks be to God, in the midst of all this darkness, He said, "Let there be light!"
Jesus is that light.
"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 were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5)
Where there was envy, Jesus demonstrated brotherly kindness. Where there was murder, Jesus showed us sacrifice. Where there was strife, Jesus brought peace. Where there was deceit, Jesus gave us truth.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
This "light of men," this "glory," this "grace and truth" was most powerfully seen on the cross. As Jesus hung there, we saw light and life! When Jesus laid down His life, we saw grace and truth! When Jesus gave Himself up for us, we saw the face of God!
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
O Father, shine your light down upon us! Help us to see your glory as we come to worship the Lamb!
