My daughters consider light switches a novelty. I’ll pick them up as we go down to the basement so that they can flip the switch on and off. It’s fun watching their amazement of the sudden shift from darkness to light.
A few months ago we had to hire an electrician named Rob. Our overhead lights in our basement flicked on and off. The old fluorescent lights got exchanged for new LED lights. I’ll never forget the first time I had my daughters flick the lights on. Hayley said, “Wow! That’s bright!”
This week our devotionals have focused on Jesus as the great light of the world. These figures and metaphors can sometimes get lost on us. Practically speaking, what does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world?
1 John 1:1-9 offers us a practical glimpse. When I turn the lights on in my basement with the new LED lights, I see everything. I see the pictures of my family, the toys scattered around the floor, and even the boxes that still need to go into the crawl space. 1 John 1:7 sums up the practicality of the light, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
The light reveals the goodness of God, and the light reveals the sin in the world. The promise in this passage is that when we walk in the light we are more connected to God and to others. We see life as Jesus sees it. We see people as Jesus see them. Confessing our sin and brokenness is act of walking in the light. Ultimately, we do not have to find ourselves rambling through the darkness.
We hope that this Advent brings joy and wholeness through Jesus. Advent shines a light on us to help us become who Jesus intended us to be. When you experience the Gospel in Advent, you take inventory on the places that God wants to shine a light. Our confession of sin opens us up to healing and reconciliation. It moves us from self-centeredness to connectedness. The light might not feel safe, but it’s good.
PRAYER
Lord, shine your light on my heart. Help me see any sin or brokenness keeping me from experiencing fellowship with you.
PRACTICE
Write a confessional prayer to God asking Him to shine His light in you. If you have wronged anyone, reach out to them and make it right.
Photo by Isabella and Zsa Fischer on Unsplash
