Christ Is Like Sunlight

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. (Hebrews 1:3)

Jesus relates to God the way radiance relates to glory, or the way the rays of sunlight relate to the sun.

Keep in mind that every analogy between God and natural things is imperfect and will distort if you press it. Nevertheless, consider for example,

There is no time that the sun exists without the beams of radiance. They cannot be separated. The radiance is co-eternal with the glory. Christ is co-eternal with God the Father.

The radiance is the glory radiating out. It is not essentially different from the glory. Christ is God standing forth as separate but not essentially different from the Father.

Thus the radiance is eternally begotten, as it were, by the glory — not created or made. If you put a solar-activated calculator in the sunlight, numbers appear on the face of the calculator. These, you could say, are created or made by the sun, but they are not what the sun is. But the rays of the sun are an extension of the sun. So Christ is eternally begotten of the Father, but not made or created.

We see the sun by means of seeing the rays of the sun. So we see God the Father by seeing Jesus. The rays of the sun arrive here about eight minutes after they leave the sun, and the round ball of fire that we see in the sky is the image — the exact representation — of the sun; not because it is a painting of the sun, but because it is the sun streaming forth in its radiance.

So I commend this great Person to you that you might trust in him and love him and worship him. He is alive and sitting at the right hand of God with all power and authority and will one day come in great glory. He has that exalted place because he is himself God the Son, “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”

John Piper 

Light Refused Increases Darkness

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

ROMANS 1:20-23

 

PONDER THIS

All people have some light as image bearers of God. But light refused increases darkness. Our decisions about faith and how to live are not neutral. You cannot simply take light or truth and put it on ice. You cannot put truth in your pocket and say, “That’s very interesting; I’ll spend it someday if I need it.” When God gives you light, when creation and conscience speak to your heart, if you don’t glorify God, don’t believe in God, don’t trust God, your life will not remain static. You’ll begin to regress and lose even the light you have. Your heart will be darkened.

Why does a person not believe in God? Belief in God means an adjustment in lifestyle. A person’s lifestyle says, “If I admit that, I’m going to have to change this.” We either turn away from the worldly life we love or from the righteousness of Jesus. We are prone to choose that which seems most convenient and comfortable at the time, but that choice comes with baggage and darkness.

What are some of the ways of Christ that feel uncomfortable and inconvenient for you right now?

What parts of your lifestyle do not reflect Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to an accountability partner about the parts of your life you want to change to reflect Christ. Ask your friend to check in with you about this.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Window of the Heart

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:3)

One of the most remarkable capacities of the human mind is the capacity to direct its own attention to something it chooses. We can pause and say to our minds, “Think about this, and not that.” We can focus our attention on an idea or a picture or a problem or a hope.

It is an amazing power. I doubt that animals have it. They are probably not self-reflective, but rather governed by impulse and instinct.

Have you been neglecting this great weapon in the arsenal of your war against sin? The Bible calls us again and again to use this remarkable gift. Let’s take this gift off the shelf, and dust it off, and put it to use.

For example, Paul says in Romans 8:5–6, “Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (my translation).

This is stunning. What you set your mind on determines whether the issue is life or death.

Many of us have become far too passive in our pursuit of change and wholeness and peace. I have the feeling that in our therapeutic age we have fallen into the passive mindset of simply “talking through our problems” or “dealing with our issues” or “discovering the roots of our brokenness in our family of origin.”

But I see a much more aggressive, non-passive approach to change in the New Testament. Namely, set your mind. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

Our emotions are governed in large measure by what we consider — what we dwell on with our minds. For example, Jesus told us to overcome the emotion of anxiety by what we consider: “Consider the ravens. . . . Consider the lilies” (Luke 12:24, 27).

The mind is the window of the heart. If we let our minds constantly dwell on the dark, the heart will feel dark. But if we open the window of our mind to the light, the heart will feel the light.

Above all, this great capacity of our minds to focus and consider is meant for considering Jesus (Hebrews 12:3). So, let’s do this: “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

John Piper 

Shine, Don’t Hide!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

MATTHEW 5:14-15

 

PONDER THIS

Jesus said we are the light of the world. You don’t light light and you don’t salt salt; it’s what we are because of Jesus. We are to get outside of the four walls of the church, and we are to live as the light of the world.

When you got saved, you were saved to shine. Don’t hide your testimony. Are you ashamed to carry a Bible to work? Are you embarrassed to talk about how you spent your weekend at church? When you go to lunch, do you bow your head and thank God for the food? Do you invite others to do so? Do people know you are a Christian? Or are you hiding your lamp under a basket? Are you ashamed of the One who died for you?

The light is burning. You love the Lord, but you may be hiding your light. You have it under a basket. It is foolishness to conceal such a beautiful light—a light is meant to shine. You may say, “I love the Lord Jesus” and mean it. You even have a “Jesus Saves” bumper sticker. But what good are these proclamations if they are hidden from others? Be bold. Let His light shine!

How do you seek to reveal the light of Jesus to others in your life?

What tempts you to hide your light?

PRACTICE THIS

Share the love of Christ with another person today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Christ Is Like Sunlight

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. (Hebrews 1:3)

Jesus relates to God the way radiance relates to glory, or the way the rays of sunlight relate to the sun.

Keep in mind that every analogy between God and natural things is imperfect and will distort if you press it. Nevertheless, consider for example,

There is no time that the sun exists without the beams of radiance. They cannot be separated. The radiance is co-eternal with the glory. Christ is co-eternal with God the Father.

The radiance is the glory radiating out. It is not essentially different from the glory. Christ is God standing forth as separate but not essentially different from the Father.

Thus the radiance is eternally begotten, as it were, by the glory — not created or made. If you put a solar-activated calculator in the sunlight, numbers appear on the face of the calculator. These, you could say, are created or made by the sun, but they are not what the sun is. But the rays of the sun are an extension of the sun. So Christ is eternally begotten of the Father, but not made or created.

We see the sun by means of seeing the rays of the sun. So we see God the Father by seeing Jesus. The rays of the sun arrive here about eight minutes after they leave the sun, and the round ball of fire that we see in the sky is the image — the exact representation — of the sun; not because it is a painting of the sun, but because it is the sun streaming forth in its radiance.

So I commend this great Person to you that you might trust in him and love him and worship him. He is alive and sitting at the right hand of God with all power and authority and will one day come in great glory. He has that exalted place because he is himself God the Son, “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”

John Piper 

Are You Arguing the Case of Christ?

PRAY OVER THIS

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

 

PONDER THIS

It’s not enough to know the will of God: I need Christ to enable me. Do you think if you only knew the will of God, your problems would be over? You’ve got to do it. How are you going to do it? It must be Him doing it in you. You can’t do it on your own. The Holy Spirit gives me strength and encouragement to get the job done.

Jesus didn’t call us to be lawyers. Many people think, “I just can’t witness.” Of course you can. Suppose you saw an accident and they brought you into the courtroom, saying, “Tell us what you saw.” Would you say, “I just can’t do that. I’m not a lawyer. I’m not trained”? That doesn’t add up because all a witness does is tell what he saw and heard. A lawyer argues a case; a witness tells what he or she has seen and heard. If Jesus Christ has done anything for you, you’re a witness to it. You’re to talk about it. You are to share the love of Jesus. You can start by praying, “Lord Jesus, you inhabit my humanity. Lord Jesus, in the Holy Spirit of God, you have given me power and now I am going to be a witness for You to share your saving love.”

Who has lived as an example of a witness of Christ to you?

What are some ways you have been Christ’s witness to others?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with another person what you have witnessed in your life with Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Is Following Jesus Hard?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

PONDER THIS

What does it mean when Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you?” It is the picture of two oxen pulling together. The yoke is on both, and they are pulling the load. Jesus Christ is saying, “I want you to take My yoke upon you.” It is no longer only you, but it is you and Jesus. Whenever the yoke is on two oxen, one ox is the lead ox; in this case, it’s Jesus. Jesus leads and says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. . . . For my yoke is easy.”

When He says my yoke is easy, it means it fits right. Following Jesus is not something that you have to do; it’s something you get to do. I hear people say it’s hard to be a Christian but that’s a lie. The Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. Jesus said His yoke is easy. That doesn’t mean there’s no work to do.

He also said we’re to take His yoke and learn from Him. God will not force you to take this yoke. You are going to have to make the decision to take the yoke of Jesus Christ. But Jesus invites us to take His yoke.

What is the difference between viewing following Christ as something you have to do versus something you get to do?

What would look like for you to take Jesus’s yoke? What would change in your life? What would stay the same?

PRACTICE THIS

Commit to sharing the yoke of following Christ not as something you have to do but something you get to do with Him. Pray and ask Him to lead and guide you as you do.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Like a Gardenia in a Desert?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16

 

PONDER THIS

Has anyone ever asked what was different about you? I want to submit: if we’re living under the lordship of Christ, if we’re living as the Apostle Peter says we ought to be living, people will ask for an explanation of our lives. Paul and Silas were perfect examples of this. In Acts 16, they were in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were in the innermost prison, a disgusting place, and at midnight, they were praying and singing praise to God. The jailer had probably heard cursing from prisoners, but not praising. He’d often heard moaning, but not singing. He could not understand it. After an earthquake hit the jail, when Paul and Silas did not flee, the jailer came and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30). Why? He saw the difference in Paul and Silas. I hope people can see a difference in my life. I hope people who know me can say, “He is different.” I hope people who know you can say, “He has hope! She has hope! This person stands out like a gardenia in a desert of mediocrity and filth.”

Who have you seen live differently because of their relationship with Jesus?

What challenges are you facing that could be opportunities to stand out in faith and joy?

PRACTICE THIS

Encourage a Christian you know who has stood out by living differently.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Light Beyond the Light

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

Jesus Christ is refreshing. So, seek the things that are above. Don’t replace Christ this summer with trifles. Flight from Christ into Christless leisure makes the soul parched.

At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.

Don’t let the coming of summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute.

If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. Don’t fall in love with the video preview and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.

Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us this summer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Peter’s word to us about this is, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive.

What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1–2, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is God’s earth! It is a video preview to the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

The summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the light beyond the light.

John Piper 

Have You Responded to the Light?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’ But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.’” Matthew 12:24-28

 

PONDER THIS

A man may blaspheme God the Father and say, “There is no God.” He may blaspheme Jesus Christ and say, “He’s a false prophet or a fictitious person.” But when the Holy Spirit of God comes, He demolishes those things.

The Holy Spirit of God pulls away the veil of darkness. He opens the eyes of the spirit so that people can see and understand. The Pharisees were not sinning against ignorance; they were sinning against light. When Jesus was on the cross, He could say to those who were crucifying Him, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” But these men knew what they were doing.

The ministry of the Father is to rule the Universe. The ministry of the Son, in conjunction with the Father, is to save. But the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to open our eyes to give light and to help us to understand. Before I preach, I get on my knees and say, “Oh, Holy Spirit of God, open eyes. Help people to understand. Help them know You today.” It’s the Holy Spirit that opens understanding. When men and women stand before God to be judged, they’re not going to be judged primarily by the sin they committed but by the light they rejected.

Have you ever prayed for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes? How did you experience answers to this prayer?

What are some matters in your life for which you need the Holy Spirit to open your eyes?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down some of the things you need God’s direction in and pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes about what to do.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Light Beyond the Light

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

Jesus Christ is refreshing. So, seek the things that are above. Don’t replace Christ this summer with trifles. Flight from Christ into Christless leisure makes the soul parched.

At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.

Don’t let the coming of summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute.

If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. Don’t fall in love with the video preview and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.

Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us this summer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Peter’s word to us about this is, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive.

What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1–2, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is God’s earth! It is a video preview to the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

The summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the light beyond the light.

John Piper

Prepare the Way

“He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:16–17)

What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don’t let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean spiritually unprepared. Its joy and impact will be so much greater if you are ready!

So, that you might be prepared . . .

First, meditate on the fact that we need a Savior. Christmas is an indictment before it becomes a delight. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). If you don’t need a Savior, you don’t need Christmas. Christmas will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Savior. Let these short Advent meditations help awaken in you a bittersweet sense of need for the Savior.

Second, engage in sober self-examination. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24). Let every heart prepare him room . . . by cleaning house.

Third, build God-centered anticipation and expectancy and excitement into your home — especially for the children. If you are excited about Christ, they will be too. If you can only make Christmas exciting with material things, how will the children get a thirst for God? Bend the efforts of your imagination to make the wonder of the King’s arrival visible for the children.

Fourth, be much in the Scriptures, and memorize the great passages! “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:29)! Gather ’round that fire this Advent season. It is warm. It is sparkling with colors of grace. It is healing for a thousand hurts. It is light for dark nights.

John Piper 

Following the Light: Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” John 8:12

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

In the natural world, there is nothing as pure as light. Light can never be defiled or corrupted—no matter what it passes through or falls upon. You can let light fall on the most corruptible, putrefying, vile, loathsome, disease-ridden object; yet the light is not touched by it. It will expose it but not be contaminated by it.

When you take water from the purest spring, as it bubbles up and begins to flow away, it gets contaminated. But not light. Light can never be defiled, and therefore light is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was in this world. He was the Light of the world. He exposed sin, but He was never contaminated by it. Jesus could touch sinners, but sin never touched Jesus.

ACTION POINT

Do you see why “light” is a perfect word to describe the Lord Jesus Christ? Compare this passage to John 1:4-5, 9.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Thank the Lord Jesus today for being that pure light who gives life to everyone who receives His offer of salvation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Light Beyond the Light

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

Jesus Christ is refreshing. So, seek the things that are above. Don’t replace Christ this summer with trifles. Flight from Christ into Christless leisure makes the soul parched.

At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.

Don’t let the coming of summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute.

If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. Don’t fall in love with the video preview and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.

Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us this summer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Peter’s word to us about this is, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive.

What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1–2, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is God’s earth! It is a video preview to the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

The summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the light beyond the light.

John Piper 

The Victory of Light

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

MATTHEW 2:13

 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. JOHN 1:5

Here is another truth about the light of Christmas that will bless you this Christmas season. It’s found in John 1:5, where the apostle writes, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” I want to talk with you today about the victory of the light. What does John mean when he says that the darkness could not understand or “comprehend” the light? This word has also been rendered “overcome,” “put out,” or “extinguish.” What John is talking about is the victory of light over darkness. 

All of history is really a battle between light and darkness. We see it even at the birth of Jesus in the account of King Herod’s murderous rampage against the baby boys in Bethlehem. The darkness attempted to extinguish God’s light. But who must win this battle? As surely as day follows night, it is clear that darkness has no power against light! As the hymn says, “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun / Does his successive journeys run.” 

If you’re in a dark room and you want to dispel the darkness, would you take the vacuum cleaner and vacuum the darkness out? Would you take a shovel and shovel it out? Of course not. All you have to do to conquer the darkness is turn on the light. When you do that, the darkness flees. It cannot stay. It is totally powerless against the light. 

The energy produced by our sun is beyond what we can imagine. On the brightest moonlit night, the light of the moon is only one-eight hundred thousandth as bright as the sunshine on an ordinary day. If you look directly into the sun, you will burn your eyes. Yet, for all of its incredible power, the sun is at best only a faint illustration of the Son of God in His brightness. No one can overcome or extinguish the Lord’s light! In Him there is victory, at Christmas and every other season of the year. Let’s release the light of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world this Christmas. Let’s bear witness to the Light!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Purity of the Light

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

JOHN 1: 6–10

Today we want to emphasize Jesus as the purity of the light of Christmas. The Bible says that Jesus was “in the world” (John 1:10). But the Lord was most assuredly not of this world. He did not have His origin in the world. His birth in Bethlehem was not the beginning of His life, for He is the Lord of heaven.

Because Jesus was not of this world, He is the pure, incorruptible Light. In the natural world, there is nothing as pure as light. Light can never be defiled or corrupted, no matter what it passes through or what it falls on. Light can never be debased or sullied. You can shine light through a dirty windowpane or a glass of muddy water, and all the light does is expose the dirt. The light is not touched by the dirt. 

Even the purest water flowing from a clear mountain spring will become contaminated as it flows along. Even the purest looking crystals of snow falling from heaven contain tiny particles of debris. And as that snow falls on the ground, it will become corrupted. But light can never be defiled. Therefore, light is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus exposed sin, but He was never contaminated by sin. Jesus could touch sinners, but sin never touched Him. He was totally undefiled. When the Bible calls Jesus the “light of the world,” it’s a reminder of the sinless, stainless purity of the Son of God. Jesus was the only Person Who could look other people in the face and say, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). 

The Baby born in Bethlehem was “the true Light” (John 1:9), the pure light of heaven. Jesus was in the world but not of the world. This Christmas, as we behold Jesus, the Light of the world, think about His incorruptible purity.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Light Beyond the Light

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

Jesus Christ is refreshing. So, seek the things that are above. Don’t replace Christ this summer with trifles. Flight from Christ into Christ-less leisure makes the soul parched.

At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.

Don’t let the coming of summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute.

If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. Don’t fall in love with the video preview and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.

Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us this summer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Peter’s word to us about this is: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive.

What sort of summer mind-set is this? It is the mind-set of Colossians 3:1–2, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is God’s earth! It is a video preview to the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

The summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the light beyond the light.

John Piper

Light Out of Darkness

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. - 1 Thessalonians 5:5

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," 

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.  - Psalm 139:11-12

There is pain in the darkness, both physical and mental.

It's a place of not being able to see.

It can be literal or perceived.

It's a place filled with sorrow, the kind that swallows you up and leaves you breathless.

In it, you are seized with fear, it's the unknown, it's the letting go of the control we are convinced we have, but really don't possess.

It's that stomach seizing, hold your breath feeling that leaves you in turmoil.

Be humble before the Lord.

It is a temporary affliction, a testing of your spirit. 

It matters not the ending of it.

We have God who never changes.

He has told us.

He has promised.

He will never leave or forsake us.

Cancer, emotional distress, physical ailments, addictions and whatever means Satan can use to destroy.

We were created by a holy God for His glory and purpose.

Our soul belongs to Him.

He is in control working all things together for good. 

Trust, faith and hope, these things are found in the Lord.

Cultivate them, savor them and rely on them.

Don't waste your affliction!

Remember that Christ alone holds the key to eternal life, there is no other who saves!

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7

14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 

15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 

17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 

18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 

19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.  - Psalm 103:14-19

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

64 But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

65 And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"

68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." - John 6:63-69

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. - John 17:1-5

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' - Acts 26:18

6 "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 

7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 

8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.  - Isaiah 42:6-8