No Longer in Darkness
From the 21-Day Light of the World Advent Devotional
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).
Before giving my life to Jesus, I was walking in utter darkness. We all were. Colossians 2 tells us that we were dead in our trespasses and sins, but by the power of the gospel, we have been made alive with Him. Our record of debt was cancelled. We are declared “not guilty” in the eyes of a holy God and brought near to Him by the blood of Christ.
Because of these truths, we get to walk into our lives with our heads held high, eyes on the Father, the Source of our light. We are surrounded by darkness, now more than ever. It can become easy for the Christ-follower to become overwhelmed by an evil agenda or the sin struggles that plague our generation. What if, this advent season, we become overwhelmed by the Light instead? What if we carry our light with such confidence that those in darkness begin to long to experience it, too?
We are in darkness no longer. As citizens of heaven, we possess the light of life, beckoning us toward a life of holiness and righteousness. The Holy Spirit, our helper, is enabling and empowering us to live in a way that brings the utmost glory to God. It has absolutely nothing to do with us, but absolutely everything to do with His power and presence.
Each day, we carry our lantern of Light into a world of darkness, inviting those around us to the freedom, warmth, and protection found only in Christ. Our lives are but a vapor, James tells us (James 4:13). We never know how much time we have left to bring the Light to a dark world. May we take advantage of every opportunity!
Prayer: God, thank you for rescuing me from the darkness. May I recognize the Light I carry and share it wherever You lead me.
Dig Deeper: Read Colossians 2
Discussion Questions:
When did you surrender your heart and life to Jesus?
How can you live in more awareness of that reality this advent season? What will it look like for you to share the Light with others?
