Thursday, Feb. 18

Walking in the light 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 

John 8:12 

When Susan asked me to consider a favorite passage of scripture that would contribute to this year’s Lenten devo-tional theme, my mind went right to John 8:12. This promise Jesus spoke has been a guiding, spiritual power in my life.

How many times do we find ourselves in darkness? The darkness of illness, the darkness of difficult decisions, the darkness of someone’s rejection of us, the darkness of de-pression, the darkness of the loss of a loved one. These are only a few of those times. Two weeks ago, I got up from sleep in the dark of the night and ran smack into the open door of my nearby closet! Darkness can be anything from annoying, to scary, to downright dangerous.

We have a very special promise from Jesus as we walk through the moments and days and years of our life: “I will be your light. Whoever follows me will never walk in dark-ness but will have the light of life.” 

That word of assurance has been central to my life. Dark-ness experiences are part of life, but the Light of Christ is there for us and will guide us through all of them.

Let this promise become central to your life. Read any of the Jesus stories of the New Testament, and you will see this promise of light as it became so real for the woman caught in adultery, the man who was blind from birth, for Nicode-mus who came to Jesus at night, for doubting Thomas, for the woman at the well.

The power of this promise is for you and for me.

Dear Lord, you are the light of the world and the light in my times of darkness. For this promise of your presence and this gift of light I give you thanks and praise. AMEN. 

Pastor Carl Sachtleben