Today’s Text: John 7-9
Key Text: John 8:12
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ “
When you think about it, it’s a staggering promise: to never walk in darkness.
Think of just some of the ways we can be in darkness:
- Unclear and uncertain about what to think or which action to take
- Unable to see clearly when it comes to our relationships or responsibilities
- Feeling as if we are at the end of yet another alley – a dead one – just like the one before.
Jesus claims that in following Him we need not face such obstacles.
Is it a simple matter of memorizing some Bible verses or going to church each week without fail?
No, but those are good starting points.
I think it comes down to the quality of the relationship and the depth of the discipleship that we have in Jesus.
It’s a lifelong process, not a quick course in religion.
It’s also about simply trusting that Jesus is who He says He is – the literal light of the world.
It’s living our lives believing in Christ’s ability to help us see out of all the dark alleys in which we find ourselves.
It’s about faith.
Oh, there’s one other benefit to living such a life, according to Jesus.
You see, not only does He claim He is the light of the world – turns out – He claims we can be that too.
We can not only find our way out of our darkness – we can lead others to the light as well – and on, and on, it goes.
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By Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
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IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 