1.9.26 - Lisa Liou
Friday, January 9, 2025
John 12:46
The devotions this week are written by Lisa Liou. Lisa is the founder and executive director of All Gen Movement, a Christian ministry dedicated to healing the generations and renewing the Church. She previously served over 20 years with InterVarsity, most recently as Regional Director in the Western US. She is married to Jeff, an ordained CRC minister, and together they live in Monrovia, CA with their two teenagers.
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
As we begin this devotional on the theme of light, consider lighting a candle.
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to adjust your eyes after being in a dark or dim room and stepping out into the full sunlight? Sometimes when walking out of a movie theatre on a sunny summer day, it can be so blinding that you instinctively close your eyes. If you have sensitive eyes, it can even hurt. That’s how big of a contrast darkness is from light.
Jesus identifies himself as the light that came into the world; it makes sense that those who believe in him cannot stay in the darkness. His light would blind us!
In chapter 12 of John, Jesus discusses how some were blinded to him despite all his miracles and others believed. It can be hard for us to understand why some of us have been given the gift of faith and adjust to seeing the light, while others remain unconvinced, turn away, or reject Jesus, remaining in the darkness.
This is especially difficult when it is a beloved friend or family member who remains spiritually blinded. Thankfully, we know that receiving Christ’s light is a divine work. Apart from God’s grace and the Spirit’s work, none of us are inherently more prone to seeing Christ’s light and receiving it than anyone else.
Those of us who know Christ’s light can ask the Spirit to open the minds and hearts of unbelievers. We also get to be Christ’s light in the world, which includes sharing the good news of Christ as well as exuding his love and compassion.
This week we have focused on God bringing light into the darkness through Christ. God also brings light into the darkness through us–the Church. This is what it means to be people of light.
Take a moment to ask the Lord to highlight for you any area in your life where you are missing an opportunity to be a person of light. Ask the Spirit to help you in this area.
Think of someone in your family, workplace, or neighborhood who needs the light of Christ. Ask the Spirit to open their eyes to Christ’s light.
Let’s offer this prayer one last time. As you breathe in say, Light of the world, and as you breathe out say, let your light shine.