Scripture
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Observation
Jesus is talking with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Ruling Council about how to be born again. In this portion, Jesus talks about mankind's heart, and our propensity to be drawn to darkness, to love darkness instead of the light. Jesus is the light of the world exposing the deeds of man. A Question: When was the last time I asked Jesus to shine His Light on everything in my life, to expose any "evil deeds" in my life? Jesus came to free me from sin and death. Evil deeds are sin. What evil deeds are in me, either on the surface or deep in the soul?
Application
I don't consider my self to be evil, BUT anything that does not build up the kingdom of God, is in the evil category. I think about our world, we have-as our Pastor has told us-become "amoral". Meaning I can do whatever I want, as long as it does not hurt anyone else, it is completely fine. So do I have things in my life that could be defined as "amoral"? If I do, those are evil. Do I have envy, jealousy, selfishness, idolatry(sports-hobbies) anger-which are accepted behaviors in today's society, but they are evil, because they take away from God working in me, building his kingdom. What should I do? I need to be honest with myself about what is in my life. I need to fillet myself open and expose "me" to God.(God knows my depravity, so my evilness will be no surprise to God, the problem is that I am trying to hide it and keep it close to me in safe keeping). I need to ask the God of the Universe to shine His Light on my evilness. And THEN, God will burn up the chaff in my life. It will be like God doing surgery on me with a laser, and will cut the evil disease right out of me. I will be free, just as God wanted all along. Glory, it feels good to be Free.
Prayer
Father, You have provided a way for me to walk in your Light, and that way is through Christ. But evil ways in me throw me off the path, or block it completely. You have not left me stranded. Thank you for always providing a way for me. I submit my life to you as an open book, I ask that you shine light on me to expose any evil ways in me. Reveal those to me, so I will not harbor them in friendly arenas, but release them to you, so can burn them from my life.
2 comments:
I like the line you used, "fillet myself open." Now, that's what I call exposing yourself to the examination of the Most High God. I've been doing a lot of self-examination lately as well, and maybe it's my age or just the season of history we are living in. All I know is that we will be blessed and rewarded by righteousness and judged by our sin. I'd rather be blameless and open to His Spirit to have His way with me.
John, I agree that I would rather be blameless and open to God having His way in me, rather than me holding onto "something" inside me, that I think is really valuable, but in reality it is very destructive to me.
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