August 20 - Walk in the Light

 Read today’s texts first: Jeremiah 48,49; Psalms 67; 1 John 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Putting on blinders and saying God doesn’t exist
is like an ostrich burying his head in the sand
(which they don’t actually do because it’s stupid!) 

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1:5-7).

One of the residents at Buchanan I really enjoy spending time with is legally blind. I make it a point to escort her to the various chapel services because her positivity inspires me. When I see her, I often think of Fanny Crosby, one of the most prolific hymn writers of all time. She too was physically blind but her songs made it clear she could see just fine into the spiritual realm: Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight, angels descending, bring from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love. This is my story this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long!

There is a blessed assurance we experience when we walk in the light. But there are those who can see physically yet choose to walk in spiritual darkness. I recall a news story about a fellow who calls himself a Pastafarian from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He insists on wearing a colander on his head for religious reasons, essentially to make fun of people who believe in God. His “church” was started to ridicule creationists, which if it wasn’t so sad would make me laugh. Mocking someone who sees creation and acknowledges a Creator is the same as mocking someone who acknowledges a painter when they see a painting or a builder when they see a building. To me it is common sense and the one who doesn’t see that is actually the fool (Ps. 14:1). He is stumbling his way through spiritual darkness, in this case with a pasta strainer on his head!

It is true that people tend to love the darkness more than the light because they don’t want their deeds to be exposed (John 3:19,20). Those who see the obvious evidence of God yet choose not to believe are putting on blinders, hoping by not recognizing God they are no longer accountable for their other choices. God says otherwise and the prophecies in today’s readings in Jeremiah are proof of that.

“Lord, I do want to walk in your light. I love what Your Word and Your Spirit has to say to me every day. This is my story this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long!”