The Darkness

Darkness. The world is in darkness. The tragedy is that they call their darkness "light." As Jesus said, "How great is the darkness!" What is the one thing the darkness needs? Genuine light. Light that glorifies the Father who is in Heaven.

The light of holy living. We are called to be saints, holy ones, set apart ones. We are to live lives distinguished by purity. We are to be distinctive in our walk. As distinctive as light is from darkness. If we are not, we have hidden the light under baskets of conformity. We have become a part of the darkness. We live lives of deceit--to the eternal detriment of those walking in the darkness and in their blindness.

The light of compassion. Visible, undeniable acts of compassion should permeate our lives. We need the compassion that when it looks out over our Jerusalem and all its darkness and hatred for the Light of the World that we are moved--not to anger and condemnation--but to broken-hearted tears. And action. Need-focused acts of compassion.

The light of contentment. We need to demonstrate that we are satisfied with whatever He has given us. We need to live lives that demonstrate that we are confident in His goodness and that if we need more, that He will graciously provide more. We need to refuse to bow down to the materialism of our culture, a culture whose "dream" is financial excess to feed unnecessary wants.

The light of love. True love is founded on, rests on, obedience to God. "Love" that is outside obedience and submission to God's Word is not love at all. Love that flows from obedience to God is the love that can choose not to love the world and the things in the world, can choose to love my neighbor as He loves me, can choose to love my enemies down on my knees in prayer for God to put a desire in their hearts to come to the Light of Everlasting Love. God is love. The fruit of the Spirit is love.

The light of faithfulness. In a world filled with sorrow and heartbreak we must live lives that demonstrate our trust in His love and wisdom. We must--in the midst of our tears--demonstrate that He is the God of all comfort. And that we will rest in Him no matter what. Continue to follow Him no matter what. And then we must be His comforters to others in their times of sorrow.

Men will not respond well to the light. It exposes their willing self-deception. It demonstrates that their "light" is darkness. Yet, we must shine. There are those in the darkness who are groping around looking for the light. With our lives and our words we must bear witness to the Light of the World so that those who are seeking can find Him.

We must be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Yes, being His light is hard work. But it's a labor of love. And it will bring glory to our Father.

Regeneration

Regeneration creates a changed life. The sanctification process that always accompanies regeneration means that the life keeps changing--growing in truth and grace. If there's never been any change, it's because regeneration has not occurred. No growth? No life.

First Love

We love because He first loved us.

He loved us when we were at enmity with Him.
He loved us when we were in slavery to our sin.
He loved us when we not the slightest bit interested in His doing so.
He loved us and we hadn't asked Him to do so.

How many people did I show His love to today who fall into those categories?

Profund Love

The deepest, most profound, most genuine love is so often expressed in the simplest ways. Those that love us spontaneously declare their love for us in the most ordinary ways that we fail to see and sense the love in their actions and instead relegate those actions to the routine. No act of love is routine or small or ordinary no matter how simply it is expressed. And when we fail to see the love in such behaviors we rob ourselves of the exquisite joy of knowing we are loved. And we let our inattentiveness--self-absorption--squelch the thankfulness that should be growing in our hearts. See! Look! Understand the simple ways those in your life declare their love for you in the ordinariness of every day. And continue to deeply love those that God has put into your life in those simple profound ways whether they sense your love or not.
If you must be thanked for your acts of love or praised for your acts of love, then your "lover" is yourself.

One Day

A question--or two--for today: Can I as this day winds down think of one person whose life I touched today? One person who because they spent a moment with me knows that he or she is loved--or even just appreciated? One? Can I think of one stranger whose life I touched today because they had a "chance"--God-ordained--encounter with me today? Surely, I didn't encounter someone today in such a way that if he or she came into my church on Sunday morning and saw and recognized me, that that person would turn and leave?
You know that old saying, 'Only one life will soon be . . ." It should say "Only one day will soon be . . ." What in my life was done in such a way that it will "last"?

A Reminder

Reminder:
The steps to having God's peace in your life: First, a life filled with praise--rejoice in the Lord always. Then, a life of demonstrated compassion--be gentle toward all men. Next, a steadfast, confident trust--don't be anxious about anything. Finally, time each day for thankful prayer--cast all your care on Him. And the result of those priorities? "The peace of God which is beyond human comprehension will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus."
If you're lacking God's peace in your life, one of those "steps" of obedience is missing.

Pursuits

 We are so dedicated to the pursuit of material, external things as if they somehow are the source of happiness. The happiness they afford is just as temporary as they are. What's that old saying? "If there's too much, something is missing." The life that satisfies is the one that gives us the joy that can sing in any trouble and the peace that is incomprehensibly steadfast in the midst of the fiercest whirlwind. We know that, but we so often get swept up in the pursuit of the things that don't matter. And when God allows us to obtain them, we wonder why they bring us no joy, peace, or contentment. It's because they are worthless; they are efficacious for nothing. Stop and honestly ask yourself "what am I pursuing?" My list of priorities will clearly explain my apathy toward the things of God.  They are a revealing list of what I have committed my energies to other than my love for Christ--the things I covet more than I desire a deepening relationship to Him, more than I desire the "Well done, good and faithful servant."  And parents, don't think for a moment that your kids don't notice what's important to you. Pursue what you know is real--a life founded on obedience to the Savior of your souls who tells us to "set your heart on His kingdom and His goodness, and all these things will come to you as a matter of course." And who warns us, "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." We know that He pleads with us to pursue His face--His presence, to draw nearer to Him. Don't go in the other direction in pursuit of earth's emptiness. Willful sin is self-inflicted pain.