Being the Light..Craig Denison Ministries

Being the Light

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We live in the reality that there is both light and darkness around us at all times. This world has both good and evil, right and wrong. As believers we must grow in both our acceptance of this reality and our pursuit of the light. We must allow God to mold and shape us into those who rid ourselves of any darkness, become fully known to God, and allow his light to transform us into reflections of his Son. May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week.

Scripture:“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Devotional:

The heart of our heavenly Father is to partner with us in seeing the light of his kingdom advance to every dark corner of the earth. Why he in his perfect wisdom has chosen to use us baffles me. But his desire to co-labor with us is the truth of Scripture. God has called us to be the light shining into the darkness of others’ lives in love.

Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:14-16,

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

For a long time I considered myself incapable of giving “light to all in the house.” I know my weaknesses all too well. I see the darkness in my life. How can I give light to anyone? You see, I thought the light I was supposed to give was the light of my own perfection. I thought I needed to get my life sorted out before I could ever minister to someone else. And out of that misconception I failed to experience the abundant life that comes from being used by God.

The truth of Scripture is that God is not calling us to minister out of our perfection. He isn’t calling us to figure everything out before we can be used. The most powerful declaration we can make to those in darkness is that we who are in desperate need have been met by a perfectly loving Savior. When all the world sees is our facade of perfection, they know right away that they don’t belong in Christianity. But when we live with the courage to be truly vulnerable and honest, we open our lives for those in darkness to see the light of God within us—that he in his grace encounters, loves, and dwells with weak and desperate men and women.

God is not calling you to share with the world your own perfection. He is calling you to simply be who you truly are, encounter his loving-kindness, and share with the world the grace-filled hope we have in Christ. Take time today to simply let God love you. Allow him to mold and shape you into a child who wholly experiences the love of the Father. And from that place of being loved as you are, open up your life and love others as you have been loved. Live today openly and honestly before God and man. Open up your life to those in darkness that they might see the light of God’s glorious grace. And live as the light of the world, illuminating the path to God’s heart for all those around you. May you experience the joy, passion, and purpose that comes from being used by God to advance his kingdom today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on your calling to be the light of the world. Remember that all God desires from you today is to be open and honest before him and others. He simply wants you to be loved and to love.

“But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

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

2. Take time to simply let God love you. Open your heart and draw near to him with confidence. Rest in his presence. Ask him how he feels about you. Experience his love today.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”1 John 4:18

3. Ask the Holy Spirit how he wants to use you to be the light of the world today. Whom can you be open and honest with about who God is and what he has done in your life? Whom can you love well today?

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-21

“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

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8

You are already the light of the world just as you are. God has called you that from the moment of your salvation. Your light doesn’t depend on what you did yesterday or the thought you just had. You are the light because God dwells within you and is constantly beckoning you to let him work through you. You are the light because you have been redeemed and your life is hidden in Christ. You are the light because he has told you so. Live with faith in what God has spoken over your life. Look for opportunities to see his word spoken over you come to fruition. And work in union with him allowing him to anoint all you do. May those in darkness come to the light as the result of Christ working in you and through you today.

Extended Reading: James 2

 

Understanding Guilt..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Understanding Guilt

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 8:1-11

Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence.

Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things.

Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad."

Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11).

3 Fresh Ways to Study Your Bible..Amy Green

 3 Fresh Ways to Study Your Bible

by Amy Green

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”  - Romans 15:4

Whenever the Bible talks about spending time with God through reading the Word, it’s never in the context of a burden. I don’t know about you, but I could use more hope in my life. Here are three fresh ways to study your Bible:

1. Praying the Bible
This method is just what it sounds like: Take a passage of Scripture and read it, line by line, pausing in between to pray its truth for specific people and situations in your life. The psalms are great for this, since they’re written as prayers. (Even the ones where David wishes death to his enemies can be turned into prayers about the destruction of sin in your own heart or evil in the world like terrorism, human trafficking, or poverty.)

This method is less about interpreting the passage and more about using its words to bring requests before God and to praise him for who He is. Try pausing between each verse and lifting up specific people and situations that relate to the words there. If you find it hard to focus in your time praying, this might be helpful for you.
Need a place to start? Try praying through Isaiah 35, Psalm 27, or Philippians 2.

2. Walk with Jesus through the Gospels
My friend once gave me this advice: If you’re going through a spiritually dry time, read through the Gospels and write down what you learn about Jesus. That’s it. Nothing fancy. It seems so simple that it can hardly be called a “method,” but at the same time… how often do we page right by the familiar stories of miracles and parables?

How long has it been since we let Jesus surprise us? When we ask what it means to follow Jesus today, do we have a clear picture of what that looks like?

All of that and more can be found when taking this exercise through each of the four Gospels. As Christians, we’re called to be disciples and imitators of Jesus. The best way to know what your faith should look like is to get to know him better.

3. Coordinate with Your Sermon Series
Take a sermon series that your church is starting and dive deeply into a parallel study. If it’s exegetical (preaching straight through a book or part of a book), read the passage before the sermon on Sunday. If it’s topical and you don’t know for sure which passages you’ll be going to, pick a portion of the Bible that has a lot to say about that topic and read through it a little at a time.

This is a great weekend devotional practice to get into, and unlike some of the other methods, it is usually pretty short, since pastors don’t often tackle massive chunks of Scripture at one time. There won’t be any “spoilers” for the sermon, but it’s amazing how much easier it is to engage in church when you’ve spent time focusing your heart on the subject ahead of time.

A Prayer for the Burden You Shoulder Today..Megan Evans

 A Prayer for the Burden You Shoulder Today

By Megan Evans

"Blessed be the Lord!
Day after day he bears our burdens;
God is our salvation. Selah" - Psalm 68:19 (CSB)

Our shoulders were never meant to balance the weight of the world around us, but we certainly try sometimes, don’t we? Is there a heavy burden weighing upon your heart and mind today? It is tiring to bear this daily load and responsibility, and the need for hope and relief grows greater by the day. We need the peace and rest Jesus extends to us. Let’s find refuge and fresh new strength in the Word of God today as we pray over these cares together.

Perhaps you are burdened with the care of a loved one or facing hard decisions this week. Maybe you have a deadline approaching, or you worry about the future. You might even be walking around with the weight of yesterday, chained to regret or past hurt. Jesus offers hope for all today. Lord, You see what my heart is carrying right now. Guide me in Your wisdom so that I can honor You in all that I do.

Psalm 68 reminds us that we have a good God. That is our daily starting place, even when life doesn’t seem fair or circumstances are hard to understand. Clinging to God’s character helps us view our situation through a lens of hope. When our heart, mind, body, and spirit are running on overdrive, it can be hard to remember who is in charge. Our good and great God is for us, not against us, and we can always trust His lead. Teach me to praise your name no matter what, Jesus. Teach my heart to always sing, “blessed be the Lord!”

Day after day, God promises to carry us and bear our burdens. This psalm proclaims that He alone is our salvation. Do we seek Him first? In today’s world, our fingers are tempted to search the internet before folding in prayer. It is a battle that we will continue to face as we live in this age of technology and information, but we don’t have to settle for the finite ways of the world. The Lord invites us to go to Him first. Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  

Additionally, in Matthew 11:28-30 our Savior calls to us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is our daily invitation to bring our burdens to Jesus. Not only will God meet our needs, but at his feet, we will find daily rest and wisdom. Lord, I can’t bear this earthly burden by myself. Today, I take off all worry and emotion and instead yoke myself to You, Jesus. I welcome Your rest, and I am ready to learn from You. 

It can be hard to let go of our burdens, but God’s Word reminds us that surrendering these to the Lord is not an empty release. Our cares don’t just fall into a forgotten abyss if we dare loosen our grip or cease to maintain a vigil of worry. Quite the opposite! God is our salvation, our answer, and our rest for all heaviness. We can trust Him and stop trying to figure out every solution on our own. Daily, He will strengthen us with fresh new mercies. He will fill us with His wisdom, peace, and joy for the tasks at hand and will prepare us for tomorrow. 

When we hand over our worries to Jesus, our shoulders become unladen. Rest in His salvation. Entrust and release all that is weighing on your heart and mind into His care today. 

Let’s pray now for the burdens we carry:

Father God, this burden I shoulder today is heavy, and in obedience to Your Word, I slip it off and lay it at Your feet today. Yoked to Jesus, I am ready to learn Your ways. Keep me teachable. Help me navigate each task and responsibility in Your perfect timing and with Your strength and wisdom. Fill me with Your peace today. As needs arise, remind me to seek You first, God, trusting Your perfect provision. Lastly, remind me to praise You always so that the first and last words of my day, regardless of circumstance, may be, “Blessed be the Lord!” In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Finding God in the Struggle..Rev. Kyle Norman

 Finding God in the Struggle

By Rev. Kyle Norman

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;  from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken." - Psalm 62:1-2

I have a mug in which I like to drink my morning coffee. “The struggle is real…” the mug says, and so it is. Simply watch the morning news, and you will uncover the harshness of this reality. Whether it’s my morning drowsiness or the weight of all I bear, there are times when the struggles of life rest heavily; I cannot help but feel a little wearied by it all. Are you the same?

Living faithfully means we must accept and name this struggle. Scripture continually gives voice to the difficult places of our lives. Christian faith is not a spiritual escapism. Faithfulness is rooted in a life that can be tragic, hard, difficult, or even unfair. We are never asked to gloss over these truths. Take, for example, Psalm 62. While the psalm is classified as a song of confidence, it is sung against the backdrop of difficulty. The opening verses describe how adversaries continually attempt to topple the psalmist over and how curses are heard instead of blessings. This struggle is aptly articulated in the third verse, where from within this hardship, the psalmist lifts up an all-too-familiar question: “How long, O Lord?” 

How Long? Have you ever cried those words before the Lord? Like the psalmist before you, have you ever felt the weight of oppressive life? Have you felt cursed rather than blessed? Yes, the struggle is real. Yet while faithfulness demands we acknowledge this hard truth, this is not where we stop. Yes, the struggle is real, my mug says, but then it goes on – “but so is God,” it proclaims. These four words make all the difference.

We can have confidence in our faith, a confidence that is rooted, not in the absence of struggle, but in the presence of the Lord who dwells with us. God’s strength is in direct contrast to the things of life that work against us. In faith, we are called to recognize that God is not just an observer of our lives. God surrounds us. The Lord is the solid rock on which we stand and a veritable fortress that protects and shelters. Thus, with the psalmist, we can declare that we will not be shaken. The solid foundation of the Lord is more secure and more powerful than anything that life can throw at us. 

Our song of confidence lies in this divine embrace. Like a parent wrapping his or her arms around an infant, the warm might of God encompasses us. In that embrace, we can be hopeful and trusting. “Trust in the Lord, at all times, O people” the psalmist exhorts. Yes, we may feel the stresses and difficulties of life, but we will not be overtaken by them. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
The strength of God is grounded in God’s love for us. God is not just a strong being in the sky. Mere belief in the strength of God does little for us. One can be strong yet absent, mighty yet uncaring. Happily, this is not what Scripture declares. Scripture reveals that the Lord is loving. This truth is the heart of the gospel. It is what the incarnation is all about. The deep, deep love of Jesus means that we can be confident in his presence for us. The strong and mighty God is the one who became wrapped in flesh to enter the frailty of human life. Such is the magnificent love of God. 

Of course, the love of the Lord does not make the struggle magically disappear. Occasionally, this truth is a hard one to bear. Yet during these times, we are encouraged to pour our hearts out confidently to the Lord. We do so, claiming the Lord’s promise that we will be lovingly received. We are not discarded in our times of struggle or stress. The call to seek Christ as our refuge is rooted in the call to experience the warmth of his loving presence. 

In whatever you face, may you find your rest in God alone. May you uncover the presence of the Lord as your hope and your salvation. The Lord surrounds you. The Lord comforts you. The Lord secures your very life.

The struggle may be real. But so is God. Hallelujah.        

Further reading:

• Psalm 62
• Philippians 4:6-7
• Hebrews 4:14-16

THE THANKSGIVING FACTOR..Jeff Schreve

 THE THANKSGIVING FACTOR

Jeff Schreve

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18 

In the classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of her sufferings at the hands of the Nazis during the evil reign of Adolph Hitler. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were incarcerated at the Nazi concentration camp, Ravensbruck, and experienced terrible atrocities there. On one occasion, they were forced to disrobe before the German soldiers. In that awful, humiliating moment, an amazing discovery came to Corrie's mind: "They took Jesus' clothes too. He hung naked for me." When she relayed that wondrous thought to Betsie, she gasped and said, "Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him for it." 

One of the things that made Corrie and Betsie such dynamic Christians was the fact that the chose to see life from God's perspective. In the worst of situations, they found new insights to praise and thank God.

The Bible tells us that we are to give thanks in everything, the good things AND the bad things. In Psalm 50:23, God says, "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me." In the hard times, thanksgiving is difficult. It is definitely a sacrifice to thank God in a Nazi concentration camp, but it is so very necessary. Thanksgiving honors God, and when you and I honor God, He honors us (1 Samuel 2:30).

How is your thanksgiving factor? Are you facing tough times? Have you been griping and complaining about the things in your life that are hard, lonely and frustrating? Why not try praising and thanking God for your difficulty.  He knows about it, He is over it, and He cares for you. Without question, He has a purpose in every trial and tribulation. Start today to live a life of thanksgiving. If you will do it, I promise you on the authority of the Word of God, your attitude will change, the people around you will be blessed, and Jesus Christ will be glorified and honored.

Hoping you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve