Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
We Grow In The Light
“But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).
Light is essential for all life on earth. Many plants will alter their growth to maximize the amount of light that their leaves can capture. I love watching sunflowers move as the sun changes positions in the sky.
The secular world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but true intimacy only occurs in the light. Jesus taught us in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” True intimacy is a close relationship with Jesus Christ and that comes when we bring our entire life to His light, which is the only true light. He is the light of the world!
We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are. I am reminded of the story in John 3 of Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, but he knew that God was with Jesus. It is important to note that in the second verse of John 3 it begins, “He came to Jesus at night…” (John 3:2). Nicodemus was using the darkness to hide his fear of being seen with Jesus. This is ironic because he was using darkness as a cover to go see the light of the world.
For us as Christians to grow we need meaningful relationships. This requires us to be authentic and humble. This is the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. In this atmosphere, we can bring our sins out to the light among our trusted friends. James 5:16 teaches, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” (James 5:16).
Authenticity is rare today. It only happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. It happens when people share their hurts, reveal their true feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, and ask for help and prayer.
If we become open about our lives, we experience the blessing of authentic fellowship. The Bible instructs, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). What a friend we have in Jesus!
Prayer: As a moth is attracted to an artificial light, our souls are attracted to you dear God – the light of the world. Continue to draw us closer to your way, truth, and light. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
What Does God Want From You?
What Does God Want From You? “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 NIV).Through our prayers and petitions we make it very clear what we want from God, but have you ever stopped to think what does God want from me? I had a friend once tell me that for years he viewed God as a “mystical vending machine.” Many Christians believe that if we give our tithes and offerings to our local church, then we have “done our part.” Moreover, we sometimes confuse God with Santa Claus and think that if we... -
What Are Your Priorities
What Are Your Priorities? Perhaps our greatest power is to establish our priorities. These are the things that motivate us. Priorities are based on values, beliefs, ideals, and commitment. They define each of us as a person. Some are motivated by fame or money. Others are motivated by their friends or family. In short, there can be hundreds of reasons that motivate us each day. It is critically important to recognize that we alone have the power to set our priorities and if we do not set them, then society will set them for us. Popular culture will set our priorities... -
Approach Prayer With Confidence And Thanksgiving
Approach Prayer With Confidence And Thanksgiving Prayer is an essential component to our relationship with God. We offer prayers for those who are sick or in need of help and prayers of thanksgiving for our blessings. Prayer is also a time for us to be quiet and listen for the gentle voice of God. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” We all would be wise to focus on this promise while we wait on the Lord."Even if I don’t hear a response to my prayer, I can still come away with peace...