To recognize the power of light, we have to first acknowledge the reality of darkness.  If you’ve grown up in the city on streets with automatic street lights and the constant glow of traffic, stop lights and buildings, the first time you experienced the total darkness of the country must have come as a shock. Maybe you were camping or on a road trip, and the night sky overwhelmed you.  Or perhaps, like me, you grew up in a rural area and know well the powerful presence of da

In our Advent meditation today, ponder the following phrases from the meditations you’ve read this week. Journal your prayerful response, reflecting on what God has revealed to you through his Word during this first week of Advent.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot overcome the light.  Let him separate the light from darkness and bring order to the chaos.  Today may be a dark day, but it isn’t a hopeless one either.  Our creator would also be our rede

Read Exodus 13:17-22 . Ponder Exodus 13:17-22 Where do you see imagery of light in these verses? Of darkness?  What does this passage reveal about God’s character? Explain.  Wilderness can be used in much the same way as the word “darkness,” implying a sense of chaos or lack of control. How do you see God displaying faithfulness to the Israelites even in the wilderness and darkness?  When has your journey of faith felt like a wilderness season? How did God display his faithfu

Read Exodus 3:1-22 . Ponder As you read over today’s passage, where do you see images of light? Of darkness?  Scholars and even the early Christian martyr Stephen (Acts 7) point to Moses as a savior who pointed to the greater salvation God was going to provide in Jesus. How do you see that in these verses?  What have been some “burning bush” moments in your journey with God—moments of decision, of calling, of repentance? How have you responded?  What steps can you take today

Read Genesis 3:1-24 .  Ponder Understanding light as truth, goodness and beauty and darkness as symbolizes sin, death and shame, consider this passage. What sections of Genesis 3 point to light?  What sections convey a sense of darkness?  Focus on verses 7-13 and consider Adam and Eve’s actions and words. How do they reflect shame, brokenness or darkness?  Even knowing what they’d done, God came looking for Adam and Eve. Even in their shame, he gave them the opportunity to ac

Read Genesis 1:1–2:3 . Ponder God’s first act in creation is to separate light from darkness. Why do you think that’s important?  Light often signifies order and purpose, while darkness conveys chaos and confusion. How do you see that idea at work tangibly in creation? Explain.  Take some time to mull over the symbolism of light and darkness. How does light bring life? Order? Why is it so often used to signify blessing in Scripture?  Darkness can signify fear, death and even

Read John 1:1-5 . Ponder How do you see the metaphor of light and darkness in this passage?  What’s the connection between light and life? Darkness and death?  How have you experienced Jesus as light in the darkness in your life?  Think about how sin blinds us to the truth. How have you seen Jesus bring light into that darkness, in your own life or in the life of someone else?  Jesus didn’t come to make us better people, but to redeem or buy us back from sin. Why is it import

Before the world began, God was already unfolding his plan of salvation.  In the beginning, Scripture tells us, the world was “formless and empty,” (Gen. 1:2 NLT) and darkness covered everything, a heavy cloak hanging over the watery expanse.  Even before God separated the light from the darkness, before he spoke the sky into existence or separated the earth from the water, God knew the story he was writing.  He would create a beautiful garden full of everything his creation

Practical tips to help you remember God’s goodness, notice his provision and celebrate the blessings he’s bestowed on you Years ago, in a season of sadness, I was reading Psalm 42. It’s a great psalm to turn to in seasons of sorrow or depression, as the psalmist asks again and again, “Oh soul, why are you downcast.”  But in the midst of that season, I read Psalm 42:6: “I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount

Choosing Rest in a Culture of Hustle In her book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest , Ruth Haley Barton writes that practicing Sabbath is...

Read 2 Peter 3:17-18 . Ponder If you’ve ever studied another language, you’ve likely run across the word imperative . Imperative...

Read 2 Peter 3:14-16 . Ponder Often these days, I find myself thinking, “I want to go home.”  What I’ve come to realize about that...

Read 2 Peter 3:10-13 . Ponder While Peter wanted his readers to understand God’s character, he also wanted them to understand—with...

Read 2 Peter 3:8-9 . Ponder I teach a first grade life group class at my church. One Sunday, after a particularly harrowing class with...

Read 2 Peter 3:3-7 . Ponder So, if you’re like me, you read through today’s passage and immediately said, “What did I just read?” Take a...

Read 2 Peter 3:1-2 . Ponder Not long ago, my best friend’s daughter turned 16. Her mom asked several of the women in her daughter’s life...

Read 2 Peter 2:20-22 .  Ponder Peter ended this section of his letter with a warning aimed at those who hear and understand the gospel...

Read 2 Peter 2:17-19 . Ponder For the past two days, we’ve considered Peter’s description of the false teachers’ character, but in...

Read 2 Peter 2:12-16 . Ponder In yesterday’s passage, Peter described the false teachers who were infiltrating the church as being like...

Read 2 Peter 2:10b-14  and Galatians 5:16-26 . Ponder Buckle up, friends! If you thought yesterday’s passage was tough, today’s requires...