Episode 88: John 1:5
Today’s verse is John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Let’s pray together.
Jesus, there is darkness in this world. You know that better than anyone. You bore it all by Yourself on the cross. And You did it for us. This darkness is evil and it casts a shade over our souls, darkening our deeds, stealing our joy, and keeping us from finding truth. It is so hard to overcome and it creeps everywhere, into everyone, slippery and staining. We don’t know how to be free from it or how to hide or run from it. We can’t cleanse ourselves of its influence.
Jesus, I know You are the light of the world. This is what You proclaimed Yourself to be. Your words are true and they do not return void. So we know that light refers to You. It refers to Your kindness and strength, to Your words and deeds, to Your eternal glory, and Your human tenure. You are light. And the light is all-consuming, ever-plentiful, brilliant and beaming. We see more clearly by it than anything else in this world. There is no better cure and no better helpmate. Your light is truth and that truth stands us steady as a rock.
Jesus, sometimes we are afraid of the light itself. It shines too keenly into our hearts, revealing our wrongs, revealing our true sin-nature. We shrink back, ashamed, embarrassed, sorrowful, and angry. We lash out like the wounded animals we have become, attempting to hurt You or Your believers. We are wrong to do so, even though it makes complete sense that we would. And we would rather fall back into darkness where at least we know what’s familiar and where we have some measure of control, than let the effervescent illumination purge the darkness from our beings.
Jesus, sometimes it is so dark we don’t think we can see the light. We think the darkness is too strong for it. We think that we will forever be blind, groping in filth, lost in isolation. We don’t know how to accept the shining gift of deliverance being offered to us. We are weak in faith, caught in bondage, and we build walls of protection, seeking to help ourselves, but only serving to keep out our only hope. We are truly covered in our sin, in the inky black night of its smothering chains. And we have abandoned hope.
Jesus, please reach us. Please prove to us that Your light is more powerful than any darkness. You shine through the darkness, eradicating it, dispelling it into the void. The darkness cannot overcome Your light. The darkness cannot overcome You. You are the source of all peace and joy and comfort and truth. The source of all that glows and gleams and glistens. Let this word of knowledge burn bright within our hearts and minds, fanning ever brightly, spreading and redeeming our spirits. We need to hear Your voice and reach out for Your nail-scarred hands. Oh, don’t let us go. Don’t let us drop back into fear and deception, those dark and devious machinations of our enemy. Instead, lift us up into an effulgent explosion of deliverance.
Save us and redeem us, O Bright Savior. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You that You are powerful enough to do this. Thank You that You never give up on us. Thank You for Your light.
I pray this in the brilliant array of Your name. Amen.
