The Light of the World (John 8:12-20)

Today's scripture: John 8:12-20

We live in a very dark world. What used to be right is wrong. What used to be wrong is right. Truth is relative. Selfishness abounds. I'm going to do whatever I want to because it's all about me.

Sometimes it seems as though the light is forever dimmed. I don't even like to watch the news any more ... it's just too depressing. This morning, my husband had the news on as I was prepping for our upcoming vacation. I wasn't really paying attention, but a sound bite or two permeated. Five teens were killed because the driver was allegedly speeding. Another rounds of tornadoes are heading to the mid-west ... on the heels of the devastating storms from last week. A young starlet seems to be imploding.

Is there any good news? Sometimes it just doesn't seem there is.

But there is good news. The best news of all, as a matter of fact.

Jesus is still the light of the world. He offers hope, peace, and comfort. He promises hope in a seemingly hopeless world. He is the one light that pierces the darkness.

And because He is in those of us who have committed our lives to Him, His light shines through us as well.

Yes, we live in a very, very dark world. And it seems to be growing ever-darker. But we can have hope ... those of us who follow Christ, that is. One day, there will be no more darkness. God Himself will be all the light we'll need (Revelation 21:23; 22:5).

For now, though, let's shine Christ's light. Let's be those small beacons that guide others to that light.

A Story of Grace (John 8:1-11)

Today's scripture: John 8:1-11

I so love today's verses.

I imagine this woman, whom I believe may have been "set up," being dragged from bed. She's with a man to whom she's not married. She's naked. Vulnerable. Knowing she's done wrong.

How did she come to this? Was she lonely? Had she been abused? Had she been seduced in a moment of weakness? We don't know how she got there, but that's where she is found.

A group of self-righteous men burst into the room and grab her. (One has to wonder where the man is ...) Perhaps she only has time to grab a sheet. She's pulled through the streets. Tripping over the ends of her wrap. People point and judge. They snicker and sneer. They know what she's done.

Finally, she's thrown at the feet of the man they call the Teacher. She's heard of Him. That He's done miracles. That He preaches love. That He claims to be God.

And if He's God, He too will revile her. She deserves it, after all.

The men, who have been gathering stones as they stomp through the streets, shout, "“Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?” (v. 4, CEV).

They're right. That's what the law says. She braces herself for the first stone. She waits for the words of the Teacher.

But instead of pelting her with words of condemnation, He doesn't say a word. Instead, he crouches and writes in the dirt. What are those words? We don't know, and many speculate.

I can imagine how the woman's heart falls to her stomach. The anticipation. The fear.

Then a miracle.

After the badgering goes on for a while, Jesus finally stands and says, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” (v. 10).

Shamed, each of the condemning, hypocritical men drops his stone. And walks away.

After a moment, Jesus looks at the women. “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?”(v.10).

Imagine. She is expecting death. She is offered life. Jesus says, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore" (v. 11).

This is my story. This is yours as well. We have all been caught in sin. Each and every one of us. None of us has "never sinned." Each of us deserves death. Each of us should face God's accusations.

But instead of condemnation, Jesus has written our names in the Book of Life. God has written our names on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). He has made the enemy drop the stones of guilt, accusation, and unworthiness.

He has not accused us. Instead, He offers forgiveness and life. He makes only one command: Don't sin any more.

Those of us who have been saved through grace are blessed beyond measure. God sees beyond our unworthiness and sees worth in us.

And so we should, in utter and complete gratitude, live for Him. Serving Him. Sinning no more.

Just as I imagine this woman did. For the rest of her life.

The Only Conclusion (John 7:40-53)

Today's scripture: John 7:40-53

The most critical decision a person can make is answering the question, "Who is Jesus?"

Some people say He never existed, that He was just a myth. This just isn't true. The Bible is one piece of evidence that Jesus did exist, and its historical veracity has been proven. Secular historians, such as Josephus, also wrote of Jesus as having lived. No one who does his homework can say Jesus didn't walk this earth 2000 years ago.

Others say He was just a good man and teacher. And while He did exist, the stories of His miracles are overblown. He never claimed to be God. He was merely a good motivational speaker. Again, however, because the New Testament books were written within just decades of Jesus' death and resurrection, many would have been able to debunk those books if they weren't true. But nothing has been written that says, "No, despite what those Christ-followers say, Jesus didn't raise anyone from the dead. I was there."

In addition, according to tradition, the "inner circle"—Peter, James, Thomas, et al—died martyrs' deaths as they proclaimed Jesus as God. Even John spent his final days in lonely exile writing the revelation of Jesus' one-day triumphant return.

Finally, Jesus Himself said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Never did He claim to be just a prophet or just a teacher. He was God Himself. And only He is the way to salvation (John 14:6). One of my favorite quotes about this comes from C.S. Lewis:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

The only conclusion one can come to is that Jesus is exactly who He says He is: He is the Son of God who came to earth to provide salvation for anyone who chooses to follow Him.

Not just a teacher. Not just a prophet. Not just a good man.

He was—He is—the Messiah. He is God Himself.

The Water of Life (John 7:37-39)

Today's scripture: John 7:37-39

I'm a huge water drinker ... ummm, well, I'm not exactly huge, but I do drink a lot of water. Since I avoid soda and caffeine, I don't have much of a choice. However, sometimes, in the busyness of the day, I forget to fill my ever-present cup. Or if the weather is particularly dry, I may find myself thirsty.

We need water. I just read (and this wasn't an expert opinion) that most people can survive three weeks without food, but only three days without water. We are, after all, made up of something like 80 percent water. Without this critical component, we will die. I've only been marginally dehydrated once. I had a terrible flu and ended up in the emergency room to be rehydrated. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

Just as our bodies need water, so do our spirits need spiritual water. Without the water of life, Jesus Himself, we cannot survive. In fact, in contrast to our bodies' need for H₂O, our souls need 100 percent of the "living water" of Jesus.

Through Him comes both salvation and sanctification. When we invite Him into our hearts and lives through the belief in His death, burial, and resurrection, He forgives us and fills us with spiritual water. Then, when we walk with Him each day, surrendering ourselves to Him, He continues to give us what we need to serve Him well. We are filled when we study the Bible and spend time in communion with Jesus.

When we neglect our time with Him, we become spiritually dehydrated. Our souls begin to shrivel up due to lack of spiritual nourishment.

Are you feeling spiritually thirsty? Drink from the words of Jesus. Spend time in the gospels and learn from Him. Read the Old Testament prophets and rehydrate your soul.

Seeking Jesus (John 7:32-36

Today's scripture: John 7:32-36

Jesus told the Pharisees that He would be going somewhere—somewhere they would not be able to go.

This was perplexing then ... and somewhat perplexing now. What did Jesus mean? We now know He meant He'd be ascending to heaven for all eternity. So why wouldn't the Pharisees be able to go there as well?

The Bible tells us that those who seek God with a sincere heart will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13). And those who choose to follow Him, accepting the gift of salvation through belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, will spend eternity with Him (see John 3:16).

So, if the Pharisees sought Him, why wouldn't they find Him? Because they weren't seeking Him with hearts to know truth. They merely wanted to shut Him up, to keep Him from teaching truth. And because they didn't want to really know Him, they wouldn't one day be with Him in heaven.

We know that some of the Pharisees eventually sought Jesus with sincere hearts. Nicodemus not only sought Jesus in secret in John 3, but he also publicly aligned with his Savior after Jesus' death by helping to take His body to the tomb (John 19:38-40). But sadly, most of them were so caught up in legalism to recognize Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah.

What are the lessons? First, God will indeed reveal Himself to a seeking heart. Have you sincerely sought His truth? If not, ask Him to open your heart to Him. Second, we can be assured that we will one day go to where Jesus is.

NOTE: When I started these devotionals, they were (and still are) an extension of my private time with the Lord. I love God's word, and I love helping others see the importance of daily time studying its truths. If you have been blessed by these weekday devotionals, would you consider sharing them with your friends and family? You can share them on Facebook or Google+, or just email the links. Thanks!