A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Tuesday, January 29, 2008  A Lancaster County sunrise (Photo by Doris High)  Listen to this message on your audio player."Walking In The Light" "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Today the skies are overcast and rain is gently falling to the earth here in southcentral Pennsylvania. As I look through our large home office window I'm reminded that the rain is an indication of God's provisions for our daily needs. There's peace in my heart and order in my home and for all these blessings I give thanks to my faithful God. But I merely click on an online news source or turn on a TV news show and I am barraged by scenes of turmoil from every region of the globe. There's no shortage of evidence that it's a dark world out there. If you don't discern this spiritual darkness you're probably not spending enough time in the light of God's Word! You see, just as our physical eyes can adjust to a dark setting and then are pained by a sudden bright light, so our spiritual eyes can grow comfortable in darkness. After prolonged exposure to darkness, the light which we know is good, can actually be painful. You probably know people who are living in darkness but they don't even know it. They are so used to the darkness that any reference to light (Christ) is very irritating to them. This is the challenge we have in witnessing to our unsaved friends and family.  Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." This is the second of His seven "I am" statements. It reveals Christ as the Illuminator, the One who brings the energy of light into our sin darkened world. In the introduction of John Jesus is described as "The true light that gives light to every man" (John 1:9). "The true light" stands in contrast to the many false sources of spiritual light. Only Christ is the true light! Jesus directs the second part of the verse to His listeners and applies this spiritual truth to all His followers: "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The simple stipulation Christ gives for staying in the light is directed to "whoever follows me." The Greek indicates that this is a present tense, meaning that we must have an ongoing, active relationship with Him. The wonderful promise is that we who follow Christ "will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The Bible instructs us to "walk in the Light!" "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Today, as we "walk in the light" we will dispel the depressing darkness of sin. It will not penetrate our hearts when the light of God's Word is hidden within, shining forth the brilliance of His glory. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, we choose to follow You all the days of our life. We find great assurance as we're reminded that we will not be engulfed by the surrounding evil but instead Your light will guide us to eternal blessing. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight holding onto Your promises as we continue to build a solid foundation through Your Holy Word. It is in the Name of Jesus that we pray to You today. Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Here I Am To Worship" (Audio) "Light of the world you stepped down into darkness..." "Light Your World" (Video) "This Little Light Of Mine" (Audio) Sing along! Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. A parting photo. How's this for a mailbox!  (Photo by Doris High) |
Administration Information  Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/21/2008 $595.00)Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.  Musical playlists Classic hymns mix Christian eclectic mix Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  |
