imported_rachel
02-12-2007, 10:23 AM
In the physical world, there is no measurable quantity which defines
darkness; dark is simply the absence of light. Therefore, the
measure of darkness can only be in reference to the measure of light:
less darkness is only achieved through more light.
In the Spiritual world, darkness represents the evil of the enemy and
light represents the holiness of God. Though neither can be truly
measured, the concept is the same: darkness only exists when there is
an absence of light. Light and dark cannot exist at the same time;
when light is increased, darkness must fade.
1 John 1:5-6
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God
is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have
fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live
by the truth."
Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus and not
through anything we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the purpose of
Salvation is to walk in intimate fellowship with Jesus - the true and
eternal Light. It is not possible to have fellowship with the Light
of Christ and still live a life filled with the darkness of
sin. Jesus purifies us from all sin (past, present, and future) in
the sense of judgment before the Father, but He also illuminates the
dark sin in our life and gives us the strength to gradually push it
aside.
A life without the Light is in darkness and cannot even recognize
true sin. If we attempt to remove sin without first shining the
Light, we simply clean the outside but leave a heart which is dark
and dead. Some outsides are dirtier than others; but no matter how
filthy an outside may appear, we ALL need the Light of Christ in our
heart before we can be clean; "First clean the inside of the cup and
dish, and then the outside also will be clean" (Matthew 23:26). The
grace His Light is able to do in an instant what no amount of self
effort can ever accomplish.
When our own Spiritual life becomes "dim," it usually means our time
with the Light has begun to suffer - our discipline of prayer and
reading His Word has been replaced with competing
distractions. Where we once walked with clear vision, we now bump
into walls and continually stub our toes. But God desires to light
our path once again. He has "saved us and called us to a holy life"
(2 Timothy 1:9), to a life filled with Light - a life of bold clarity
in Him.
Let's share the true and eternal Light of Jesus Christ at every
opportunity and refocus our priorities on the only sure way to
restore our vision. Let's commune with Him in prayer and immerse
ourselves in His Word. His path will once again be made clear and
darkness will surely fade as we increase the Light.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
darkness; dark is simply the absence of light. Therefore, the
measure of darkness can only be in reference to the measure of light:
less darkness is only achieved through more light.
In the Spiritual world, darkness represents the evil of the enemy and
light represents the holiness of God. Though neither can be truly
measured, the concept is the same: darkness only exists when there is
an absence of light. Light and dark cannot exist at the same time;
when light is increased, darkness must fade.
1 John 1:5-6
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God
is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have
fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live
by the truth."
Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus and not
through anything we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the purpose of
Salvation is to walk in intimate fellowship with Jesus - the true and
eternal Light. It is not possible to have fellowship with the Light
of Christ and still live a life filled with the darkness of
sin. Jesus purifies us from all sin (past, present, and future) in
the sense of judgment before the Father, but He also illuminates the
dark sin in our life and gives us the strength to gradually push it
aside.
A life without the Light is in darkness and cannot even recognize
true sin. If we attempt to remove sin without first shining the
Light, we simply clean the outside but leave a heart which is dark
and dead. Some outsides are dirtier than others; but no matter how
filthy an outside may appear, we ALL need the Light of Christ in our
heart before we can be clean; "First clean the inside of the cup and
dish, and then the outside also will be clean" (Matthew 23:26). The
grace His Light is able to do in an instant what no amount of self
effort can ever accomplish.
When our own Spiritual life becomes "dim," it usually means our time
with the Light has begun to suffer - our discipline of prayer and
reading His Word has been replaced with competing
distractions. Where we once walked with clear vision, we now bump
into walls and continually stub our toes. But God desires to light
our path once again. He has "saved us and called us to a holy life"
(2 Timothy 1:9), to a life filled with Light - a life of bold clarity
in Him.
Let's share the true and eternal Light of Jesus Christ at every
opportunity and refocus our priorities on the only sure way to
restore our vision. Let's commune with Him in prayer and immerse
ourselves in His Word. His path will once again be made clear and
darkness will surely fade as we increase the Light.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm