Marvelous Light

By Emily Goss

When I was little, I used to sleepwalk frequently. I remember one particular, terrifying instance in which I slept walked into a corner in my room. I woke up and began banging the walls thinking I was trapped somehow. Darkness enveloped me, and I was afraid. No matter where I moved or put my hands, all I felt were the walls around me. Until my dad came in and turned on the light.

When the light came on, I realized I was still in the comfort of my room, and I easily found my way out of the corner I had been stuck in. Heart racing, I could see that I had only traveled a few feet from my bed. But because I couldn’t see, I was afraid.

In my confusion and fear, all I knew was the darkness. My fear clouded my judgement and ability to think beyond my situation. If I had just felt along the wall a few more feet, I would’ve been able to flip the light switch on and see there was nothing to be afraid of. But instead, I allowed the darkness to overcome me.

There is something so amazing about even the tiniest bit of light when you’ve been in the darkness for a long time. Even the smallest flame can illuminate a room full of solid black. John 1:5 says “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The Bible says that we have been called out of darkness. That means that because of our sin, we deserve death and eternal darkness. But, because of God’s great grace and love for us, we don’t have to wander in the darkness anymore. Jesus has opened our eyes and turned the light switch on.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

His marvelous light.

You see, Jesus called us out of the darkness into the light, to be the light. We have not been called out of the darkness and experienced the light just to wander back into the darkness. No, in fact, Jesus calls us the light of the world.

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

You may not feel like much of a light to the world. Maybe you are going through a season of darkness and wonder how you can possibly shine the light of Jesus. Maybe you are experiencing health problems, a wayward child, marital strife, or depression. And things seem way dark.

Let me encourage you to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of the darkness” as it says in our key verse for today. Instead of focusing on your “dark:” try being light to someone today. To your husband, your children, co-workers, and friends, shine the light of Jesus.

What does light look like? It looks like serving others and honoring them. It looks like showing grace and saying “I love you” when a family member hurts you. It looks like giving the waitress with subpar service a really awesome tip. It looks like walking across the street to check on your elderly neighbor. Light looks like volunteering an hour of your time a week to serve at church.

Today, let’s choose to be the marvelous light that Jesus has called us to be. Thankful that He has called us out of the darkness to be light to those who need it. Who can you be light to today?


Verse:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Prayer:
Jesus, Thank you for calling me out of the darkness to be the light. Show me today who I can shine the light of Jesus on. Give me the courage to show grace and love to others so they may see your light in me. Amen.

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