TOPIC: JESUS, THE LIGHT.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, a but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
MEMORISE:
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12)
EXPOSITION
There is an old story about a desert nomad who woke in the middle of the night feeling very hungry. He lit a candle and began eating dates (the fruit of the date palm tree) from a bowl beside his bed. He took a bite from one and saw a worm in it, so, he threw it out of the tent. He bit the second date, found another worm, and threw it away also. Reasoning that he wouldn’t have any dates left to eat if he continued, he blew out the candle and quickly ate the rest of the dates. Wow! People are like that sometimes!
Many people prefer the darkness, because in the light what they see is too much. Whatever your temptation is, that is your darkness. Hatred, greed, uncaring actions towards others, alcohol, abuse, selfishness etcetera. Whatever Satan, the prince of darkness, brings into your life is your darkness. Make no mistake, there is darkness lurking inside every human. Many people continue in their old ways because they don’t like God’s light to shine on them and reveal that their relationship with Him is in a terrible state, and that they are in serious trouble. John 3:19 says, ‘And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil’.
Jesus is the Light. He is the God who manifested in the flesh to expose those dark private corners of our lives that we keep hidden from people, acting neat and tidy before everyone. There is a mess that needs to be cleaned up inside of you, and you know that. Allow Jesus the Light to chase away all shadows, darkness and pretence in you, on this day, which is the International Day for Preservation of the 0zone Layer. The closer His light comes to you and radiates in you, the more you are freed from the darkness of ungodliness, the more the warmth and comfort of His light becomes your shining to others.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Jesus the Light, shine in me for the world to come to God through me.
2. O Lord, shine Your holy light in the darkness of my life to save me from Satan, sin and self.
3. Lord Jesus, dispel every form of darkness militating against the true prosperity of Your Church in the land.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 1:4 – 3:11; 2 Corinthians 1:21 – 3:1
Remain blessed!