Day 7: Light in the Darkness
Jesus answered… “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent Me” (John 8:14-16).
O Lord, You alone are the true and righteous Judge, and You have rendered Your verdict: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).
Ever since humans disobeyed Your command and rebelled against You in the early days of creation, they have sought to hide from You in the darkness— in vain, for even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You (Psalm 139:12).
Meanwhile, Your will and Your desire is that we come out of darkness and into Your marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 - NKJV). You have issued us Your invitation: “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).
Yet humans choose to continue in darkness and confusion, in death and destruction, rather than to step into the light of life. In the gross error of human judgment, we call evil good and good evil, [we] put darkness for light and light for darkness, [we] put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).
We reject Your truth and choose instead to listen to the enemy of our souls— the adversary (1 Peter 5:8) — who was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
But You continue to hold off Your just and true judgment, holding open Your doors of grace — until the set time when You will judge the world with justice (Acts 17:31) — not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And You continue to speak to our reckless rebellion: I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24).
You challenge our faulty judgment, "Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say... Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me! Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me?" (John 8:43, 45-46).
Oh Lord, thank You for Your great mercy. Open our ears to hear Your voice of love and forgiveness. Open our eyes to see Your light in the darkness. Open our hearts to receive Your great gift of salvation with humility and gratitude, considering the encouraging words of the apostles:
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him (2 Peter 3:15).
Commentaires