24th. February. 2021. Daily Devotion.
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12
You probably know the hoary joke about the American warship, seeing a radar blip in the fog off Newfoundland ordered the unidentified vessel to change course. It received the same command in response. Angrily the warship captain repeated his order and told the other vessel to identify itself. The reply came back, you change course, this is a lighthouse!
Jesus is the light, and the Bible is his Word; a lighthouse for us. And when we can see the light, when we understand the Word, we find it easy and sensible to comply. One person might understand, for example, the wisdom behind not committing adultery. He “sees the light”.
But what happens when the Bible tells us something and we have a different idea? Generally, people try to find some way around it. They ignore it, they “reinterpret” it, they find an argument why it is not relevant; they are, in short, smarter than the Bible and smarter than God. The problem we have if we do this is the same problem the battleship captain had. God’s not moving. And no matter how smart we are, no matter how “big our ship is,” God’s intelligence is infinite. Arguing with Him is like trying to move a land mass out of the way of your ship.
The Christian lives on faith, not understanding. We will understand all things one day; but now, we see “through a glass darkly”. So my advice is, strive for obedience to the Word. Then, when you are in the dark, you will have someone in the light who can tell you what course to take. ~M. Barge.
Lord of Light (a Lenten Prayer)
Lord of light, come shine your truth upon my life in this season of Lent.
Light into the dark corners of disillusionment, where I hide beneath the comforts of food and drink.
Light upon the fears and worries I seek to quell with control and routine.
Light within the shadowed areas of hurt that cast shades of resentment and unforgiveness in me.
Light bright across my thoughts, seep into my heart and come awaken my hope.
May your eternal light reveal heavens beautiful promises and bring a peace that surpasses understanding. Amen.
Personal Prayer
I am giving you worship with all my life; I am giving you obedience with all my power, I am giving you praise with all my strength, I am giving you honour with all my speech. I am giving you love with all my heart, I am giving you affection with all my sense, I am giving you my being with all my mind, I am giving you my soul, O most high and holy God. Praise to the Father, Praise to the Son, Praise to the Spirit, The Three in One. ~ adapted from Alexander Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica (Gaelic Songs and Prayers) (1900)
Coronavirus Prayer
God of compassion be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
