"I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12
Walking in darkness is something our eyes and our minds get used to. At first, when the light goes off, we have to stop because it's confusing. Then we begin acclimating with the dark surroundings and after a couple of minutes we get more comfortable with it. Actually, we can get used to managing really well in the dark. Even though we are never seeing the whole picture, we can see well enough to get by.
The problem is Jesus never intended for us to get by. He intended us to thrive and succeed abundantly in our life no matter the circumstances. Jesus never intended for us to walk in darkness. He never intended for us to acclimate to dark surroundings. He designed and created us to see light . . . in all its beauty and glow. He designed and created us to gain confidence from what light shows us . . . a path forward. A path forward through whatever difficult and confusing circumstance we face.
Walking in the light is not some catchy phrase . . . it is the new reality He makes possible for us. Jesus said "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness." So why do we all too often walk in darkness? It's a great question . . . one we should all consider today and every day we are tempted to acclimate to the dark surroundings of our lives. Are you feeling the effects of being in the dark? Ask Jesus to shine light into your darkness and He will . . . through His Word and through His Spirit in you.
This coming weekend we are going to be looking at the passage in John 8:1-12. This is going to be a portrait of Christ called "Patience." Take an early look into it before Sunday if you have a chance. Come hungry to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends and receive a message that will motivate you to a deeper walk in Christ.
As always, we look forward to seeing you and your family this coming weekend. Please know you are loved.
Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog
