Living In The Light

Grumbling is a huge joy killer. How will you spend your day, in the dark or in the light?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” (Genesis 1:1-5) When God created day and night He said that both are good as was all that he created. Yet with the advent of sin we began to see the two separated as metaphors for good and evil, for walking with God and walking apart from Him. And even in creation we can see the reason for this in that it was light that was introduced into the earth in order to create the separation, and that light was existent apart from the sun, moon, and stars which were not created to rule over the day and the night until the fourth day.

In the New Testament, in John 1:1-5, we find out more about that light that pre-existed the natural light. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

This Light was none other than God the Son who we came to know as Jesus Christ. He was in the beginning with God and is one in essence with God the Father and the Spirit. John tells us, as do other writers of Scripture, that it was through Him that all that was created came to be. God spoke and it happened. Jesus was in the beginning with God, and He was God identified as the Word Who created. And it is His Light that brings light to man. In John 8:12 Jesus tells us, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Ephesians 5:8, 13-14, 18-20 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light” … “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” …  “but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father….” In 1 John 1: 5 we go on to read, “…that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

So, getting back to the opening statement, “Grumbling is a huge joy killer. How will you spend your day, in the dark or in the light?” When we grumble it is because we are disappointed with something. Something did not happen the way we wanted or we did not get what we wanted to get. Maybe we were treated poorly or overlooked for a raise or promotion. There are so many things over which we can grumble, and every single one of them may be an indicator that our hearts, even if momentarily, are not right before God and that we are walking in the darkness of man and not in the Light of God - hiding ourselves in and entrusting ourselves to Him.

Note: Some people have a longer and deeper seated grumbling or even depression.  For them the thing doing the bothering is not so obvious and it may even have a physiological contributor. When reading devotional thoughts such as today's don't be quickly reactive, but rather go before God and lay everything out that you see to Him and ask His direction and His help as you move from a position of seeing things poorly toward seeing things with the hope that comes from walking in the Light. And it may be even advisable to seek wise help.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (6/12)

Let Me help you get through this day. There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night. Stay alert to the many choice-points along the way, being continually aware My Presence. You will get through this day one way or the other. One way is to moan and groan, stumbling along with shuffling feet. This will get you to the end of the day eventually, but there is a better way. You can choose to walk with Me along the path of Peace, leaning on Me as much is you need. There will still be difficulties along the way, but you can face them confidently in My strength. Thank Me for each problem you encounter, and watch to see how I transform trials into blessings.

And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel. 1 Corinthians 10:10

“… to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:79