Coming into the light
Day 394, Tuesday, Sept. 9
John Chapters 2 and 3
John comes back to the theme of light and darkness in chapter 3. Beginning in verse 19 he says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
These verses follow shortly after the much more famous John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Verse 3:16 is sometimes used to deny the reality of judgment, but later verses make its meaning clearer. Those who believe are not condemned, but those who choose not to believe have chosen judgment for themselves.
God is light. Light is welcomed by those whose hearts and deeds are godly, but feared by those who harbor evil in their heart.
The transitional verses, 17 and 18, also make this clear. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Tuesday meditation

Job 32:10-22
“Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments. Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’ But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
“They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them. Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply? I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.

Prayer focus
Lord, may we live our lives in such a way that we long to live in the light so that our deeds may be visible to all, and not long for darkness.