Light and darkness

John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. I’m not sure whether this is an encouragement today as much as it is a reality we need to be aware of as we live to love with Jesus. Not everyone is going to understand or embrace the love of Jesus. I suggested yesterday that Jesus is life; His life is the light of the world, and the light of His life is love. John informed his readers of the relationship of Jesus’ light to the domain of darkness. The light of His love is incomprehensible to those who are in darkness. Later in John’s gospel, he wrote that God judged the world by shining His light. John 3:19-20. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” So we should understand that if we love someone who is in darkness, they are not going to recognize it as love. In fact, they probably will hate you for it because it exposes their lack of love for people and their love for the darkness.  This highlights this sobering reality. One has to be rescued from the darkness in order to be able to see the shining light of God’s love. Now we come to the encouragement today. If you understand God’s love, His glory, which shines in the face of Christ, then you have been rescued and saved out of the domain of darkness. Listen/read what Paul wrote to the Colossians in chapter 1:13-14 and rejoice in God’s love for you. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” And again in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." Therefore, as we live to love with Jesus, we can know that if anyone recognizes His love in us, it is because God either is rescuing or has rescued them from darkness. His life in us, shining His love in and through us, is still judging the world. As He puts people in our paths, we can watch where God is working and where He is not as we boldly love and proclaim the gospel that God rescues people out of darkness through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.