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"Today's Devotion": (08/15/03) Turn On The LightToday's Devotion" For August 15, 2003Read: John 1:1-18 I John 1:5-2:8 TURN ON THE LIGHT by Rev. Richard Boeck "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."(Is.9:2) "Turn out the lights, the party's over..." So goes a line from an old country western song. Don Meredith, one of the original Monday Night Football announcers, used to sing that line when it was certain a team had lost the game. Turning out the lights has a negative connotation in the song, and, in reality, in life itself. Yesterday there was a huge electrical grid shutdown from New York City all the way to the east side of Lake Michigan. At first people were afraid a terrorist attack had occurred. People in subways were sent into confusion with no light in the tunnels. Local, state, and federal officials all rushed to discover the cause of the problem and to fix it so that panic wouldn't set in and the problems of darkness could be avoided. Darkness is not our friend. After dark is one of the most dangerous times for people on the streets. Even an under protected residence in certain areas is unsafe at night. "After hours" is a description given to activities in the wee hours of the morning that are shady at best. Under cover of darkness, people intending mischief seek their victims. Under cover of darkness, special forces troops carry out their missions. Under cover of darkness, thieves break in and steal. Darkness is also the word that God uses to describe the condition of Sin in our lives. He tells us that Sin darkens our minds and hearts to His love, His grace, and His mercy. Most of all He tells us how much He wants us to come out of the darkness of Sin into the marvelous light of His grace, forgiveness, and love in Jesus Christ. Christ is the "Light" that shines in the darkest reaches of our souls, in the deepest depths of our fears and despair, and in the spiritual confusion that invades our thinking. As the news reports continued last night concerning the massive blackout, and darkness began to encroach upon the landscape, light began to wink on all over. Some people and businesses had special generators to provide minimal electricity to power their lights and other essential appliances. Most didn't. As power was slowly being restored, pockets of light became concentrated in various places. And so it is for God's people in Jesus Christ. They are lights to the world, shining in the darkness of sin and despair, reflecting the Light of Christ's love and forgiveness that God may be glorified and people might be led to forgiveness and eternal life in Christ. Prayer: Father, in the beginning, at Creation, You ended the darkness by saying, "Let there be light." And there was light. Adam and Eve, when tempted by Satan, turned to darkness and lost the light of their one-time perfect relationship with You. As one of their offspring, I, too, am stuck in the darkness of Sin unless You bring the light of Your grace, mercy, and love in Jesus Christ into my life. Send Your Holy Spirit upon me, gracious Father, so that I might walk in the Light of Your love, rejoicing that I am a forgiven sinner, and eager to share that Good News with everyone I meet, so that Your Light in Christ might shine in their hearts and lives as well, giving them true peace and joy. In the name of Jesus , the true Light of the World, I pray. Amen. --Pastor Boeck Copyright @2003. All rights reserved.
************************************* Pastor Richard Boeck is writer and publisher of “Today’s Devotion,” a brief, daily devotion that brings the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ to bear on the events of the day and people’s lives. If you wish to receive a free subscription please send an email to:
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