Read John 8:31-59 .  Ponder John 8:31-59 Skim over the passage with this week’s theme in mind. Where do you see examples or imagery of slavery? Of freedom?  If you were summarizing the conversation Jesus had with the Jewish teachers, how would you describe it?  What did Jesus say enslaved the people, spiritually speaking? What did he say set them free spiritually?  What did the Jewish teachers think set them apart or gave them status before God?  How did Jesus show them they

Read Luke 4:16-30 .  Ponder Luke 4:16-30 What examples or imagery of slavery and freedom did you notice in today’s passage?  In verses 18-19, Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2 and said he had fulfilled the prophecy. Why is that important?  How does Jesus fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy? What did it mean for him to proclaim that he brings good news, comforts the brokenhearted and sets the captives free?  Why do you think the people reacted so angrily to Jesus’ proclamation? What is your init

Read Isaiah 61:1-11 . Ponder Isaiah 61:1-11 As you read today’s passage, what examples of slavery and freedom did you notice?  These verses describe mourning being replaced with blessing, despair overshadowed by praise and even the restoration of long-ago ruined cities. How does this imagery help you better understand your own salvation?  How have you experienced God’s restoration?  Read over Isaiah 61:1 one more time. Jesus spoke these words in Luke 4:18-19 and applied them

Read Exodus 1:1-14  and Exodus 14 . Ponder Exodus 1:1-14 and Exodus 14 A lot happens between today’s two Scripture passages. In your journal, jot down what you learn about the Israelites’ situation in Exodus 1. In your own words, describe what happened in Exodus 14.  What examples of slavery do you see in today’s passage? Of freedom?  How did God free the Israelites from the Egyptians?  God rescued his people in an amazing, supernatural way, but he’s still rescuing people tod

To experience true freedom, we must first acknowledge we’re enslaved. I grew up on the Mississippi River flood plain. Now that I live in the rolling hills of Tennessee, I’m always struck by the flatness of my birthplace every time I visit. I can stand on my parents’ front porch and see for miles, watch traffic coursing north on Highway 25 from the back deck. The land just rolls out in front of you, one field fading into the next, no boundaries. But if you’ve ever flown over s

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 the second week of Advent.  He will bring light where there has only been darkness.  We live in a dark world where sin is often celebrated and many hearts are darkened to the truth. He is still the light of the world—and the hope he promises is real and true.  The reason we can celebrate the Christm

Read Revelation 21 .  Ponder Revelation 21 While Genesis recounted God’s perfect creation and how sin marred and destroyed it, Revelation 21 describes the new heaven and new earth. In today’s passage, how do you see the dark effects of sin reversed in the New Jerusalem?  What examples of light do you see in these verses?  Turn your attention to verses 22-23. How is this city different from the ones we live in or those described in Scripture?  Why is it important that there’s

Read 1 Peter 2:4-9 . Ponder 1 Peter 2:4-9 How is life with Christ described in this passage?  What imagery or ideas are used to describe life without Christ?  Consider the list of who believers are in verse 9. Which of those descriptors resounds most with you? Why? Peter describes Christians using Old Testament imagery: chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people set aside for his possession. Why was it important that Peter would use imagery usually reserve

Read Luke 23:44-49 . Ponder Luke 23:44-49 Where do you see the imagery of light and darkness in today’s passage?  Darkness can symbolize a lot of things in Scripture: God’s judgment, sin and sorrow to name a few. Why do you think it’s important that the day grew dark leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross?  Mull over verse 45. What is symbolic about the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies (where only the high priest could go) from the rest of the temple being torn?  Ho

Read John 8:12-20 . Ponder John 8:12-20 Note any references to light and darkness in today’s passage. What do these verses reveal about light?  What do they teach you about darkness?  Understanding the light and darkness is one of the primary metaphors of salvation used throughout Scripture, what does this passage teach you about sin and salvation?  Meditate on Jesus’ declaration that he is the light of the world. What does that mean in your own words?  Meditate on John 8:12-

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. Ponder Isaiah 9:1-7 How do you see the ideas of light and darkness at work in this passage?  How does the metaphor of light symbolize hope in these verses?  The opening verses of this passage predict that the northernmost section of Israel, the most oppressed and the most influenced by pagan religion, would be honored by God when he sends new light in the future. Think about the original audience, oppressed by foreign governments and looking for God’s promi

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

Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.  There's just something about that famous first line of Daphne Du Maurier's most successful novel that draws you in and leaves you wanting to know more. What's Manderley? Why is it place that you can only go to in dreams? What is this novel about? The plot is almost deceptively simple: a young, guileless woman is working as a paid companion to Mrs. Van Hopper, a brash American traveling through Europe. In Monte Carlo, the pair r