Tag Archives: the Light of Christ

Self-Defeat

Preparing for Advent

November 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:11-14

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I must confess it is a cultural difference, perhaps a class difference, maybe a rural/urban difference, but I have no understanding of the concept of belittling others for enjoyment. From bullying in pre-school to hazing in college such behavior is rampant in the USA even in the way our government functions. I do not think some understand what living honorably means. Greed has a lot to do with it. People seem to be selling their souls to the highest bidder and Russia is the auctioneer. Lust for power, the need to control others, is another contributor. It is, of course, self-defeating, self-abasement if people can only feel good about themselves when they are putting someone else down.

This did not just happen overnight. We have been building up to it for most of my life. Perhaps the Cold War started it when we became so afraid. Our children today are being taught how to protect themselves in school from mass school shootings. I was taught how to hunker under my desk to protect myself from Russian bombs. Truth is that taking precautions regarding school shootings is wise. While hiding under school desks for protection from bombs and fallout was exceedingly naive. In both cases, nothing is solved unless we change the hearts and minds of the people involved.

My heart breaks every time I hear support from Christians of soul-selling behavior. Christ paid purchase our souls on a cross some 2000 years ago. His love is real and free for the asking. Christ can fill the gaps in our lives that drive us to self-defeating behavior. He can and will help us put on the armor of light that is what we are ultimately seeking.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we seek lesser Gods in search of personal fulfillment. Help us to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness* so that we can know the fulness of life with you. Amen.

*From Matthew 6:33

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Walking out of Darkness

Epiphany
January 16, 2017

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4

The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
   on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
   you have increased its joy; –Isaiah 9:1-3a

What is darkness? Numerous differing words describe darkness—blackness, gloom, ignorance, wickedness, blindness, secrecy, obscurity, trouble*. At first glance, they hold little in common. Taking them separately, one gets a feeling of lack of direction or meaning with no hope of finding either. It is a bad place to be.

Matthew 4 quotes this Isaiah scripture referring to Jesus. Matthew, in 6:22-23, looks at light and darkness with another illustration, ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! So, what happens to us if the light within us is darkness? What does that mean? What happens when one remains in darkness too long? Does being in darkness result in a false impression of light?

Sometimes we only see what we want to see. For example, we sometimes do not want to take responsibility for our outcomes. We cannot see that our problems are often of our making. The light of Christ can and will help us see our issues for what they are which is the first step to finding direction, meaning, and hope.

Prayer: Lord, shine your light through my darkness helping me find hope and direction. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/darkness

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.