Abiding in Christ Brings the Light We Need

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possessions, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (I Peter 1:2:9)  

For Insight

Darkness is the absence of light and many times we are not aware of being in darkness or how long we’ve been in darkness until we begin abiding in the light of Jesus.

After I had cataract surgery, I was surprised at how light everything became. I was amazed at how bright and clear the world around me looked. Colors were deeper. Whether blue or gray the sky was brilliant and popped with color. Even my computer screen appeared brighter. Was it possible I was in darkness so long and wasn’t aware of it?

When we’ve been in darkness that darkness begins to feel natural. Darkness can go unnoticed until something happens help us see it as such. Light must be introduced to recognize the darkness we’re in.

My cataracts had me in physical darkness but there is also spiritual darkness a person can be in and never know it until they are introduced to the light of Christ and begin to rest or abide in him.

It’s not uncommon to entertain darkness before we abide in Christ. It’s not until we begin to abide in Jesus that we can see things for what they are. We should not be surprised that the things we chose in our darkness, before abiding in Jesus, now stand out as poor choices or bad decisions. We are like what Jesus said in Matthew,

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Read Matthew 6:22-23).

We might not realize how attracted to material things, how fixated we have become on growing our worldly wealth, how our affections are in earthly things, how attracted we are to outer beauty and looks. It’s not until we are abiding in Christ that we begin to see how our entire existence is full of darkness. Jesus is the light who comes to bring light to us in every area of life.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” He has come to bring those living in the darkness of unbelief and the spiritually lost, the true light of salvation, but he also comes to help those living in any darkness after they have received him as their Light.

Jesus comes to bring light to us spiritually and he comes to shine a light so we can examine and learn what our heart is attracted to, to expose what we have set our affections on, that may be keeping us in darkness but only feels like light.

Jesus, I welcome your searching light within me. Shine your light to expose any darkness I am believing is light. Let your light transform me. Amen

For Application

What has Jesus’ light illumined in your life that brought change of outlook, relationships, attitude, and or choices?     

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