Devotions by Christine Caine

Read John 12:44–46

Jesus came to bring light to the world. It’s no longer necessary for anyone to walk in darkness.

Carry the Light

We have a responsibility to shine Christ’s light wherever we are. As with salt, light is an agent of transformation. Light and darkness cannot coexist. Whenever light encounters darkness, darkness is dispelled. In a world full of darkness, hopelessness, pain, and anguish, people are looking for direction, answers to their confusion, and some semblance of hope for their future. The light in our lives helps those around us find a way through the darkness and points them toward the life God has waiting for them.

It is as we shine light in the midst of this darkness that people will be attracted to God, his love, his grace, and his mercy. The prophet Isaiah declares, “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa. 60:1–3). Isaiah tells us that the light of Christ is attractive, magnetic, and transformational. The key is to ensure that we actually let our light shine in our everyday lives.

As sharers of God’s light, we choose the intensity of the light that we shine into our world. The strength of our spiritual core actually determines whether we are a faint flickering candle, a 75-watt light bulb, or a stadium spotlight. If our core is weak, broken and fragmented, then our light is dimmed, impeding our effectiveness in sharing Christ’s light. The degree to which we allow the light of Christ to transform our own lives determines how far our light shines in a dark world.

It will take each and every one of us to personally rise up and take our light into the darkness around us. Instead of hiding from the world or being overwhelmed by the evil of it, we need to strengthen our spiritual cores and trust in the power of God’s Spirit at work in us.

Point to Ponder

You might never know how much the light you carry means to someone walking in darkness. Are you ready to rise up and carry your light to those who are suffering? Are you willing to turn up the intensity and let your life for Christ make a difference?