Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, January 14, 2018
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 01.14.2018” on Spreaker.
This is devotional thought number 49 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Light of Jesus
One of my pastor friends reminds his congregations to repeat: “Those who follow Jesus will never get lost.” You should find courage in this little ditty. So many are groping around in darkness these days, taken captive by the devil. To know we have a Savior who is willing to guide us every step of the way is a blessing. I appreciate Jesus so much, and you should too. He is beyond qualified to lead us wherever we need to go, because He created us and the Creator must have a plan for us.
Unfortunately, humankind followed in the footsteps of our father Adam and we choose paths that seem right in our own eyes. God has been drawing people to Himself ever since. His intended will has always been that we live in harmony with the divine law of liberty; to be free from the need and desire to rely on our own wisdom in relationships, amusement, employment, education, emotional well being. He always intended that we live for His honor.
Light for Your Path
The transformation needed to produce God’s image in our lives cannot be done from afar. As as advanced as we think we are, we cannot surrender to God without His indwelling Spirit. We cannot even begin to walk the right path unless God marks out every principled step before our feet.
The Bible says: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). So, we have the Bible, complete in its instruction for reproof, doctrine, righteous living, and relationship with God. It shines in darkness for anyone willing to follow its precepts. This light of the Word of God reveals the true Light and living Word, which is Christ. Jesus is the manifestation of God who lived the right path on earth so we could follow in His footsteps. So, not only did God give us the written Word through the Spirit, but the living Word now marks out the path in living color.
Footprints of Jesus
The Bible says in the context of those who are submitted to Jesus: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21–23).
Further, the Bible says: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5–11, HCSB).
Take This Promise by the Hand
Give thanks that God has been kind enough to keep His promise to all who will receive it. He has given us the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, so we can follow His footsteps like a dependent child follows her father as he leads her by the hand. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
