Walking in the Light

 Because of the tender mercy of our God,a new day has dawned on us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 (ISV)

It has been an amazing experience for me working through the Twelve Steps.   A new light begins to shine on our lives as we take an honest inventory of ourselves (step 4), share it with another person (step 5), become willing for God to change us (step 6), humbly ask for that change to take place (step 7), become honest about the people we have harmed (step 8), and make amends to them all (step 9).

So much of our lives are spent in darkness, denial and making excuses.  What a joy and relief to have light shine upon us so that we can see the truth about ourselves and walk in what is real.

This is the promise of God, that his light would shine into our darkness.  All we have to do is be honest and willing to open up and face it all.

Lord, give us more light.  Shine into every dark area and every dark corner until we see things as they really are.  As we walk in your light, you cleanse and renew us and the day dawns brighter and brighter.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 (NLT)

But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

If we say that we don't have any sin, 

we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

If we confess our sins,

 he is faithful and righteous to forgive us those sins

 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7-9 (ISV)

Glory

Sunrise over Four Peaks - Cave Creek, AZ

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)

Glory is the word used to describe God in all his transcendent beauty, majesty and holiness.  His glory fills all the earth and the heavens.  We see his glory all around us in the creation.  We experience his glory as we walk in his presence.   We are transformed by his glory.

When we look at our mundane lives we wonder “Where’s the glory?  What could it possibly mean that I am being transformed into his image?”  Yet, as I allow my mind to expand to encompass thoughts of his glory, I find amazing things happening in me.  First is worship.  As I contemplate his glory all around me, a sense of worship rises inside of me opening my heart to his transforming power. Then, even though I may face troubles of all kinds, as I acknowledge his glorious presence, I have a sense of peace and joy continually renewing my inner being.

God's desire for us is nothing less than that we should see and share his glory.  He has high hopes for us.  As we see and reflect his glory, he works in us to change and transform us into his very image – the image of Christ who is the exact representation of God’s glory.

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

 yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

  For our light and momentary troubles

 are achieving for us an eternal glory 

that far outweighs them all. 

  2 Cor 4:16-17 (NIV)

And we all, with unveiled faces

 reflecting the glory of the Lord, 

are being transformed into the same image

 from one degree of glory to another.

2 Cor 3:18 (NET)

Wide

There's a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea.

 How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Eph 3:18 (NIV) 

God's love is much wider than we can comprehend.  It reaches everywhere.  Jesus has filled the entire universe with himself.  That encompasses everything in our lives; the good, the bad, and the ugly.  God can use anything and anyone to fulfill his plans and purposes. He is lord of it all. 

So many times we do not understand God's ways.  We tend to have a narrow perspective, often seeing things from a negative point of view.  We think, “God can't possibly use that person. Look how they live,” or “This circumstance seems so devastating.  How could God ever use it?”  The Jews did not recognize Jesus when he came because he did not fit their mold. (John 1:10,11 & Romans 10:3) Sometimes God comes to us in unexpected ways.  If our view is narrow and we think God only works in certain ways, we may miss what he has for us.  Receiving from God always involves surrender of our own ways so that we can open up to his.  It is not easy, but it is the way of growth. 

Every surrender brings more freedom and broadens and expands our reach.  Laying down our lives, surrendering our will to God’s, opens us up to a wider world. When we are stuck in our own ideas and agenda we are limited, but when we surrender our plans and ideas and ask only for God's will we are opened up to many more opportunities and possibilities.  Don’t let the surface scare you.  There could be much more in the depth.

His imagination is infinitely broader and wider than ours.  He can accomplish much more than we might ask or even think. This is the greatness of our God.  So, let’s let go of our puny agenda and open up to all he desires to accomplish in us.

Who ascended higher than all the heavens,

 so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Eph 4:10 (NLT)

 He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Eph 3:20 (NLT)

Misconceptions

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror,

but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. 

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, 

but then I will know everything completely,

just as God now knows me completely.

1 Cor 13:12 (NLT)

I've been thinking what a wonderful thing it must have been for the disciples and friends of Jesus to be in his actual physical presence, to see his expressions and to hear his voice and to walk with him.  Yet, even though they were in his presence, it didn’t guarantee knowledge.  In many ways they still did not understand him.  They still had their own areas of blindness and weakness just as we have, conditioned and determined by their personality, culture and upbringing. 

Jesus had to correct their misconceptions so many times.  Peter’s strong personality often expressed itself in prideful arrogance to the point that he actually corrected Jesus (Mt. 16:22,23) and declared himself strong enough to even die with Christ. (Mt. 26:35)  The truth was exposed (as it usually is) under pressure when he swore three times that he did not even know the man.  At that moment, Jesus looked at him and the truth of who Peter really was became evident.  (Luke 22:54-62)  Later, when Peter begins his ministry, God has to confront his cultural and religious prejudice.  (Acts 10 & 11)  

Under the influence of their ambitious mother, the disciples, James and John, came asking for the right to sit on thrones at the side of Jesus.  They foolishly said that they were able to pay the price of sorrow involved in such an honor.  Again, Jesus patiently confronts their misconceptions, stating that even he has no right to honor such a request.  (Mt. 20:20-28) 

Love cannot coexist with error.  Love has to see plainly and clearly what is really going on. Our ability to love can be seriously hindered by our personalities, our cultural assumptions or our family upbringing.  Jesus confronts each one of these areas as he lovingly and gently, with depth of understanding, works throughout our lives to dislodge falsehoods and to lead us into the truth that will set us free.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness,

but rejoices with the truth. 

1 Cor 13.6 NASB

Set Free

Love is not self-seeking,

1 Cor 13:5 (NIV)

God focus frees us from the tyranny of the self.  The self is bound, a slave. The self is defensive and stingy, thinking that to have, it must grab and hold onto what it wants.  Self focus leads to an impoverished life.  

In contrast, God's love is expansive, outward looking and abundant.  His love is inexhaustible.  The more we give away the more we get.  The life of love does not seek to hold on to its own, but by giving gains more.

Jesus came to set us free from the tyranny of self and self-focus.  It is a freedom that comes through death.  I consider that my old self died with Christ so it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and that the Christ life within creates in me a new self free to love.  I am a new creation.  God lives in me therefore, love lives in me and I live in love.

Lord, thank you for setting us free from the slave master of self.  Help us to stay focused on you as we allow your liberating love to grow in us and to be expressed through us. 

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)

So you too consider yourselves dead to sin,

but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:11 (NET)

My old self has been crucified with Christ. 

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Gal 2:20 (NLT)

Growth in Love

Love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:12 (NIV)

Let love be your highest goal!

1 Cor 14:1 (NLT)

As the holidays wind down and I return to my normal routine, I find a little time to contemplate the new year.  What direction am I heading?  What do I want to focus on this year?  I wonder, "What does Jesus have in mind?  What is his priority?"

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Jesus' priority seems clear.  His main focus was and is love - that we might experience the love he had in his father and then spread that love around.  What could be a higher goal for the new year than growth in love?  But, how do we do that?  What does it look like?  It seems like such a big topic.  What could be more difficult than learning to love?  It's definitely more than a semester course or a year's focus.  It's a life time goal.

The good news is we have a great teacher.  Someone who is not just teaching the subject matter, but someone who has actually experienced it to the full.  And he is a special kind of teacher.  He never chides or harasses or criticizes when we stumble.  He is humble and gentle and, as we listen to him and rest and abide in his love, the learning becomes a natural part of our everyday lives. The learning process often involves difficult lessons, but our teacher's gentle support never changes.

Lord, give us hearts to hear as we think about how our lives can grow in love this year.  Stimulate us to growth by your gentle and humble spirit.

Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt 11:29 (NIV)