Join me as I wrestle with those hard questions that come up and pull at our hearts. The “What if…” series is a weekly journey into the process of refinement that occurs when we seek hard after Him. I’d love to have you join me as I look at the ideas that are presented right in His Word for us to reason together and find Him. ( Is. 1:18)
I have been contemplating a few of the things Jesus said today; really considering them with diligence. Here are a few of the wise words that are left for us to take in, process, own and abide.
- John 14:16 – I AM the Way, the Truth, and The Life: no man comes to the Father but by me.
- John 8:12 – I AM the light of the world; he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- John 9:6 – As long as I AM in the world, I AM the light of the world.
- John 12:46 – I AM come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.
And then I stumbled upon this little gem, from one of my favorite prophets.
I the Lord have called You {the Messiah} for a righteous purpose and in righteousness; I will take You by the hand and I will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles},
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.
So I have to ask you: What if you walked in the truth, would you then be a light that shines brightly?
God’s Word illuminates and dispels every dark thought, deep valley, and sunken pit that exists in my life.
I love that He is this intimately close with those whom he has called. He has left us love notes along the journey, so that when we are struggling, stumbling, or sitting in a place where we are shadowed by doubt, fear, and defeat …. HIS LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTLY upon truth.
Our perspective of Truth can often change based upon our knowledge of where truth descends.
Knowledge, in the worldview of the temporal sentient beings we are, able to perceive and to acquire understanding, is limited when His light shines into our reality. Think about the direction many of the assumptions, which lead us astray, have filtered into the fabric of the tapestry of life. Where, really, is the origin?
Often my faulty ideas, those unworkable plans, stem from an inner desire that is born of my selfishness, not the servant-minded heart that exists solely in Christ. And I wonder, then, why chaos can consume and blessing is withheld at the door of indecision?
In Him, there is no lacking of reality and truth. His perspective is based on the fundamental knowing that I AM exists eternally in the LIGHT, which reveals all things hidden and dark and the fullness of the error in which they originate.
I wonder, friends, how many times I read this verse, in John 14:16, and truly feel the weight of this reality?
If I am trusting that He is exactly who He says He is, andHe is dwelling in me, then I should be a brilliant beam reflecting back upon the glory of the one true light who continues to shine in the darkness that is void of light.
If there is a darkness in my life, then the light has not touched it, yet. But when the LIGHT has been cast upon the shadow, there is a new view and revelation becomes the lens which gives a perspective now based in truth.
Through the perspective of truth, leading the way to Life, everything looks focused and ordered because chaos has no authority. The One who organized the disorganized, in sovereignty, controls my steps by shining a light fully in front of my path.
Light-bearers leave the impact of hope in the shadow of their passing.
In the book of Acts chapter 5, the apostles were so fully engaged, abiding in the Father and living in the LIGHT of the Son, that they were the topic of many a conversation. ( Acts 5:13). In verses 14 and 15, following, the Word says, “More and More were being added to the Lord, those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and women. So they [ even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”
Even the shadow of Peter, whose abiding place was at the foot of the Holy, was spilling light into every broken and dark situation. People could identify that he had been with Jesus and followed the path he trod, hoping to at least be near the shadow. Do you realize that a shadow can not occur unless there is a light shining behind it? If there is no light, then a shadow will not fall.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined. – Isaiah 9:2
Peter’s shadow was the direction to the source of the light that filled him. For those in the darkened places, even the shadow, which dimmed the true essence of light, was bright and full of HOPE.
Cast in the shadow of Light, HOPE dispels disorder.
The evident change on the lives of those who followed closely after Christ was an illumination to those who were watching and HOPING for the light to fall upon them. When we chose to forgo the worldly wisdom and path that the mind of man proclaims as true, we impact the present by radiating Truth. Perspective changes in the presence of enLIGHTtenment.
As an extension of God’s love, we can be a witness of His goodness right in the middle of our mess. Here, in the real, we shine brightly and all those around take notice. The world is not looking for the stars which shine without adversity, because it is false.
The world is looking for the average, even unlearned, Apostle of Faith, who shines in adversity, fully exemplifying God’s mercy, grace, and power.. through the LIGHT that illuminates the WAY to TRUTH.
Be impacted today, by viewing the world through the lens of the Truth, you will never see the same again. Be impactful as you go, casting a shadow of HOPE upon those who are needing a miracle of mercy.
Blessings,
Linking up with
Lyli @ Thought Provoking Thursday
Jennifer @ #TellHisStory
Carmen@ Thriving Thursdays
Crystal @ Serving Joyfully
Julie @ Fellowship Fridays
Laura @ Faith Filled Friday
“I love that He is this intimately close with those whom he has called. He has left us love notes along the journey, so that when we are struggling, stumbling, or sitting in a place where we are shadowed by doubt, fear, and defeat …. HIS LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTLY upon truth.”
I love this!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on some of my favorite verses. I’m so glad I’m next to you at Jennifer’s this week.
Thanks for your thoughts on light and shadow. I’m glad you reminded us of those wonderful verses in Isaiah. I came to your blog via Thought Provoking Thursday.
What encouragement. I too am meditating on the meaning of all that followed the I AM. So profound and prophetic. He IS. Thank you for linking up with Thriving Thursdays Dawn. Blessings to you.
I lover this! “Lightbearers leave the impact of hope in the shadow of their passing.” How I hope this is true in my life, that others can see the beauty and hope of my Lord in me!