“God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:4

Light is good since it began to exist from God’s good command, “Let there be light.” We who enjoy it should be more grateful for it than we are, and see more of God in it and by it. Physical light is said by Solomon to be sweet, but gospel light is infinitely more precious, for it reveals eternal things and ministers to our immortal natures.

When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light, and opens our eyes to see clearly the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We see clearly our sin in its true colors, and ourselves in our real position. We see the Most Holy God as He reveals Himself, His plan of mercy, and the world to come as His Word describes it. Spiritual light has many beams and colors, but whether they are knowledge, joy, holiness, or life, all are divinely good. If the light received is good, then God, the essential light, is ever so much more glorious.

Lord Jesus, since Your light is so good, give us more of it, and more of yourself, more of the true light.

When God brings light to the world, division is necessary to separate it from darkness. Light and darkness have nothing in common. Since God has divided them, we must not join them. Children of light must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work, leaving the works of darkness behind.

Our churches should divide the light from the darkness with great discipline, and we should do the same by being separated from the world by walking in God’s light instead of the dark paths. In action, in judgment, in hearing, in teaching, in association, we must discern between the precious and the vile, and maintain the great distinction which the Lord made upon the world’s first day.

Lord Jesus, be our light throughout the entire day, for Your light is the light of us all.

Question: Are there areas of your life where God’s light is dim or absent? Is it time to let Him in?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

FURTHER READING

His Wonderful Light

THE LIGHT

Living in the Light

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post Light and Darkness appeared first on Thoughts About God.

– So You Can Shine Brightly

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:14-16 NLT

A three-way light bulb illuminates a room, at various degrees of brightness, depending upon the wattage you choose. For a light bulb to work, you need to fasten it into a socket, have a trustworthy energy source, and switch on the lamp. Without such thought and action, the light remains off, and your room stays dark.

In the same fashion that a light bulb illuminates a room, your life has the power to brighten the lives of those around you. However, to keep your spiritual glow, it’s vital for you to recognize how God wired you and what He has empowered you to do. Knowing which personality type you are, an extrovert or an introvert, will help you live and function at your optimum capacity.

The difference between the two is; extroverts are very social and gain their energy by being around people. They are alive and vibrant when attending events and social gatherings. Left alone, they quickly lose their energy and flare for life. Typically, they shine best at the sparkling 125-watt setting of a three-way light bulb.

On the other hand, introverts are less social, and gain their energy when alone. Being in large crowds and having to attend many activities, absorbs their energy and ability to function well. They’re most effective in smaller settings and require much quiet time to refuel and keep going. Solitude and simplicity are a healthier way of life for introverts. Normally, they shine best at the serene 50–75-watt setting of a three-way light bulb.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”  Romans 12:6 NIV

If you are an extrovert playing it safe by functioning in the role of an introvert, you will quickly become bored, unfulfilled, and lose your vibrant glow. God wired you a certain way and desires that you find the outlet(s) that you can plug into where you can shine brighter and have a wider impact on the lives of others.

If you are an introvert functioning in an extroverts’ setting for a length of time, without appropriate times of rest and renewal, you run the risk of burning out. Thus, it’s wise to allow God to lead you to the good deeds, He desires, according to the grace He gives you; so you won’t burnout. You’ll be happier, and you’ll have the energy to keep shining brightly.

Whether you are an extrovert or introvert, when you permit God’s Holy Spirit to energize you from within, for the various things God empowers you to do, you’ll happily and powerfully shine brightly for the Lord and illuminate the lives around you.

“Lord, You are my lamp; the Lord illuminates my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29 HCSB

By Barbara Alpert
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• His Gifts and Powers
• Giving Away Our Gifts
• The Holy Spirit: Giver of Gifts

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post Recognize How God Wired You appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8

In our well-intended effort to protect our children from the effects of an increasingly secular and self-absorbed culture, I wonder if we are growing spindly saplings instead of sturdy oaks?

Children are naturally curious about anything they perceive as ‘forbidden fruit‘.  Have you ever watched a toddler who has been told ‘don’t touch‘.    As soon as the parent’s head is turned, little fingers reach toward the hot oven door, wet paint or sharp knife.

How much better it would be to read together the questionable book, sit side by side during the dubious movie or television program, and then discuss the subject in light of our being called citizens of the Kingdom of God.

First-century Christ followers were not all adults. Children also lived under the reign of godless tyrants. They, too, were slandered for their faith. Entire families lived in caves. They were stripped of the support of extended family as they became ‘scattered exiles‘. (1 Peter 1:1).

It is wise to support seedlings fresh out of moist earth, but robust trees are formed when they learn to bear the hot sun, drenching rain and howling winds. Only then do the trees create seeds which abundantly reproduce.

Lord, you know how much I want to protect my children from all harm and evil. You understand how my heart breaks when they make poor choices. Teach me how and when to intervene so they will be strong enough to withstand all that life throws at them.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Teaching Your Children in the Faith
• The Power of a Mother’s Promise
• Top Ten Ways to Teach Values to Your Kid

The post Trees and Children appeared first on Thoughts About God.

As I climbed the stairs a few cloudy and rainy nights ago, I noticed a difference. A veil of darkness blanketed my apartment complex corridor.  Halfway up the outdoor stairwell, the rungs disappeared into blackness. Ahead I could barely detect the light pole across the street, but its glow cast down to the pavement, offering very little help from my perspective. Needless to say, a chill clutched my chest for a second. What if someone lurked by my shadowed door?

Normally, a sconce hangs outside my entry to greet me. Via an automatic sensor, it flicks on when the skies darken. The same detector operates the ones at each of the four apartments in my unit along a sheltered, outdoor breezeway. I have become dependent upon its illumination when I come home after dark. It provides not only better ability to see the stairs and my door’s keyhole, but adds a sense of security. Tonight, that safeness I’d taken for granted didn’t exist.

The unexpected darkness unhinged me a bit.  I felt for the keyhole and worked my key into it. After several tries, at last it slipped into place. I turned it, heard the click, twisted the door knob, and sighed in relief as I entered my apartment with the table lamp lit to greet me. Safe.

Had I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dimmed glow emitting from street lamp across the street, I probably would have been able to detect the keyhole better and determine nothing evil lurked by my stoop.  But being a woman alone in the dark stairwell, I panicked –just a touch. That only made things worse. Time slowed as my anxiety increased. I became jittery with my fumbling to open the door as my brain hissed, “Hurry, hurry, hurry.”

As a Christian, have I become so used to the light of Christ that I become anxious when faced with darkness?

Do I need to “see” evidence of  Christ in order to believe He is always nearby?  Now you may argue a Christian is never totally in the dark. However, there are dark periods in all of our lives simply because we walk the earth.

When difficult times hit me suddenly in life, may I not react the same way spiritually as I physically did in that dark corridor. Instead, let me wait patiently for my faith-eyes to locate my Lord, the One who calms, guides and protects my soul. In blessed assurance, may I stand firm in the knowledge that Christ has already won the battle over the principalities of darkness. I know He is my faith’s automatic sensor, illuminating me with truth when things appear darker than normal.

Unlike the one at my apartment, He will never fail to light my life.

Lord, keep the jitters at bay and thwart the desire to handle things quickly on my own. Even if I can’t see clearly with my eyes, may I always recall what the Psalmist states:  “You are the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path.” (119:105) Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• God’s Timeless Gift –  by Allan Mitchell

• One Step at a Time – by Max Lucado

• Our One and Only Guide by Darren Hewer

The post When the Light Goes Out appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Where were you when you first heard the gospel?

A camp meeting?
A church service?
A long flight and a kind seat mate?

Were you anywhere west of Asia?

If so, you have the providential hand of God in directing the steps of the first missionaries to be grateful to.

The first person to hear the Gospel west of Asia was Lydia, the first convert to Christianity in Europe.

Lydia was actually from Asia.

Even more ironically, the people who shared the gospel with her were missionaries who planned to go into Asia, but the Lord led them to Europe instead.

Sometimes closed doors don’t make sense.
Often the wide open ones don’t either.

For these missionaries, both the closed and open doors left them wondering.

But they obeyed.

And they met a group of women in Europe whose hearts were already prepared to receive the truth.

Lydia was among them and came to Christ.
Next, her household believed.
A slave girl was delivered from demon possession.
Then, a jailer was transformed.
His household believed.
And a church began in Philippi.

From there, the Gospel continued to spread West.
Now, it has gone all the way around the world.

God directs our “steps “. . . and our “stops,” someone once said.

If you heard the Gospel somewhere West of Asia, you have those “steps” and “stops” of God to be grateful to.

We can never determine all the why’s of God’s leading.
But we know this . . . His own, silent answer to our why’s have a greater meaning than we could ever comprehend.  A deeper and more loving meaning than we could ever determine for ourselves.

Steps and Stops of life are God’s prerogative.

Obedience and trust are ours.

by Bethany Hayes
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Going Deeper with God
Making a Difference

The post STEPS and STOPS appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
Psalm 91:1,4

I read about a clever little bird in the tropics who, before she leaves the nest, covers her young birds with leaves. Should a poisonous snake strike its tongue against the leaves, it will instantly recoil. The leaves are poisonous to the snake.

As Christians we also have an adequate covering against our adversary, the devil. God Himself is our covering. He shields us with his wings. He shelters us with his feathers. His faithful promises are our armor and protection (Psalm 91:1,4).

How have you experienced this?

Some years ago, when I was especially run down in body and spirit, I sensed an encroaching darkness descend upon me. On this particular day, I had gone to bed early but I couldn’t sleep. An ominous dread filled my heart. When I opened my eyes, I saw a dark figure had entered the room. I called for my husband to come and together we said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to leave. We are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ and you cannot touch us. We belong to God.”

Instantly, the darkness vanished.

In Christ, we have a covering that the powers of darkness cannot penetrate. Therefore, we have nothing to fear–ever.

Father, I thank you for the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus. Knowing that You are covering me and my family, I can now relax and go to sleep.

by Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  HE IS!  A great poem

•  How Does God Do It?

•  Salvation Explained

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  •  Pinterest

The post God is our Protection appeared first on Thoughts About God.

This winter, in a far North community, I experienced 24-hour darkness for the first time. A deep respect grew in my heart for the people who live there year-round and simply take it in stride.

I received an e-mail from a friend there yesterday exclaiming, “The sun is back!” The days will lengthen rapidly now, and in four short months, the land that was shrouded in total darkness will experience total light. Children will run and play in the streets at midnight with the sun high in the sky. With the light comes new life to the village. With the light comes a freedom to run and play without the heavy clothes of winter and the fear of polar bears in the shadows.

Light dispels darkness. A Bible verse reminds us about this very thing.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

If you have received the forgiveness Jesus holds out to each one of us and have invited Him into your life, you have moved from darkness into light. Are you living today as a child of light?

Have you shed the heavy parka of guilt and shame? Have you kicked off the boots that make your feet feel leaden as you go your own way? Are you still wearing winter mittens that cause your hands to fumble as you try to do what God wants? Does your life feel encumbered by fear that came from the darkness but has no place now in the light?

As a child of the light you are called to freedom; freedom to run and play and dance in the Son. Freedom that comes as you ask daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Freedom to be who God created you to be and fulfilled in the very depths of your soul.

Ask Him today to fill you afresh with His Spirit. Ask Him today to help you shed the heavy clothes of winter that drag you down. He can help you break that habit or overcome that discouragement. He can give you wisdom and open new paths for your feet. He can help you rise above the fears you still carry of shadows in the dark. His Holy Spirit can fill you with His power to live life far beyond your own very best efforts. Today, live as a child of the light!

Heavenly Father, Today I invite Your Holy Spirit into my life in a fresh and new way. I ask for Your help in understanding how to shed the heavy winter gear and the fears that linger so I can live in freedom. Fill me today, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, with everything I need for every step I take. Today I want to live as a child of the Light. Thank You that in You, this provision is possible. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Pressing the RESET button on our lives 

•   Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

•  Salvation Explained

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  •  Pinterest

The post Live as Children of Light appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“God’s laws are perfect. They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light” Psalm 19:7,8

Professor William Lyon Phelps, one of Yale University’s most famous scholars, said, “A knowledge of the Bible without a college education is more valuable than a college education without the Bible.”

Why would he say this? Our verse gives us the answer. The Word of God (1) protects us, (2) makes us wise, (3) gives us joy, and (4) gives us light.

There are many other benefits that come from reading the Word of God. With dividends like these, we are indeed robbing ourselves of untold blessings when we neglect His holy, inspired Word for any reason whatever.

It is my privilege to counsel many thousands of people with just about every kind of problem conceivable — need for salvation, poor self-image, marital problems, financial problems, health problems, loss of loved ones, insecurity, fear, and on and on. One could think of every kind of personal need and problem that man faces, and inevitably there is an answer in the Word of God.

I do not know of any individual who has ever received Christ without some understanding of the Word of God. It is for this reason that I included in The Four Spiritual Laws booklet, which I wrote in the 1950’s, the parenthetical statement on page 2: “References contained in this booklet should be read in context from the Bible wherever possible.”

By 1983, it was estimated that more than a billion copies of The Four Spiritual Laws, which contains the distilled essence of the gospel, had been printed (including translations into every major language) and distributed throughout the world, resulting in many millions of people responding to Christ. Still, it cannot compare with God’s Word, nor can any other piece of Christian or secular literature. There is something unique and powerful about holding the Bible in your hand and reading it with your own eyes, for it speaks with authority and power possessed by no other book ever written.

Today’s action point: God’s Word is the most important book ever written, and the most important book that I could possibly read. Today I will read it for at least 15 minutes with renewed devotion, dedication and sensitivity to its mighty revolutionary power to transform lives and enable children of God to live supernaturally.

by Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

Cascading Stream under Sunlight in Forest — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

The post God’s Word Gives Joy and Light appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:4-5

Thought

Life! Not just living, but true, genuine life. Life that gives us light that darkness cannot steal away. That’s why God sent Jesus! Thankfully that light still shines and all of Satan’s horses and all of Satan’s men cannot put their deepest darkest darkness together again! Hallelujah!

Prayer

For every good and perfect gift, for the light I have even in my moments of deepest darkness, for the hope I have of living with you in glorious and unapproachable light, I thank you and praise you with eternal joy, now and forevermore. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

By Phil Ware

used with permission.
You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com

The post Genuine Life appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Reading Gail Pallota’s eye-opening novel about dealing with a chronic hard-to-diagnose disease, Barely Above Water, one sentence popped out at me. The alternative doctor told her part of the process of getting well was to bring her issues to light – letting in God’s healing touch.

Jesus said He is the LIGHT of the world. (John 8:12) How many dark crevices do each of us have we’d prefer He not shine into? Areas of hidden shame, character flaws, deep hurts we cling to out of habit, justification, denial, or fear of letting go.  I have a few, don’t you?

“Let’s not work on that one now, Lord. Let’s work on an easier one. It would be too painful to tackle that right now. I really don’t want to go there.”

But without LIGHT, how can we pinpoint the areas in our lives that are stunting our growth, our witness, our potential to do His will?  Doctors use lasers to help eradicate diseased cells. Jesus’ Spirit uses His healing touch to cauterize the places we secretly bleed.

Like peeling off a Band-Aid, we need to expose the area to the light so it can fully heal.  That means others may notice the  process. That’s alright. They will see LIGHT at work. And isn’t that what is supposed to happen? Perhaps it will encourage them to expose some areas in their lives.

And remember, scar tissue is tougher. So let in God’s healing touch to that wound, whatever it may be.

By Julie Cosgrove

Reading this by email? Please comment by Clicking on the Title at the top

follow on Facebook     follow on Twitter   follow by EMAIL   follow RSS feed

Brought to you by www.thoughtsaboutgod.com

Are you a Facebook User? Be sure that our devotionals show up on your wall.
HOW TO ARTICLE: https://www.thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/devotions-on-timeline/

The post Light appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.� Hebrews 10:24

Within your four walls is so much more than a residence for your family…
It can be a house of ministry with eternal impact!
For example…

Carol regularly takes in foster children or the homeless.

Susie finds neighbors to minister to… like lonely seniors, divorcees, or women stricken with cancer.

Donna writes letters to hospitalized or home bound friends and includes her children in the task.

Carolyn invites neighborhood children to come to play with her own.

Then she’ll ask their mothers to come for lunch or coffee when it’s time to pick them up.

While Judy’s husband travels, she’ll invite another stay-at-home mom to join her for lunch or picnic.

Sandi invites international students to join her family on holidays.

Friend, share God’s love in tangible ways!
You will find an open door to tell them about Jesus!

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2009/10/28/vb_ministry/

The post Houses of Ministry appeared first on Thoughts About God.