“Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees objected, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!”14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going.15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone.16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together.” John 8:12-16 NET
God, source and giver of light,
It is amazing that the sun You created for our warmth and life is such a small example of Your created light! I can understand why people worshipped it before You made Yourself known. They were so dependant on the warmth for harvest and the light of day to work in. Jesus stated that He is the Light of the creator, come to bring more than daylight but to light up lives with understanding and eternal life.
Jesus showed us how dark our hearts are without You, God. The depth of our sin regardless of trying to tell ourselves we are not so bad on a good day. Jesus gives each of us the opportunity of a Damascus road experience. Whether like Paul it is a momentous occasion or a quiet slow dawning realisation. His light gives us the choice. To step into it and believe in You or go it alone. The most important choice of our life. Your light brings us into the light of meaning, direction and purpose . You, God who loved us first.
Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.
(Loved with everlasting love by George Wade Robinson 1838-1877)
In dark winter days and nights we remember spring and summer will come again. In days when we feel down we remember the light of Your love. Ever present. Chase away darkness, negativity, unbelief, scepticism – no matter how small. Light our, my world today.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
Light of the World,
For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
For our fellowship, ministers and our and neighbouring congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants. Local councillors.
For Ukraine and Russia. For Israel, Lebanon, the Middle East. A time to end war.
For all those who work to make electricity available and the emergency workers.
For those who need Your light bulb moments today to make good decisions.
For us to brighten Your light within us, chase darkness way and spend time with You.
In Jesus Holy name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 2nd November 2024
There is an introduction to the story of the hymn at the beginning. I have always loved this since I first heard it.
There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.
O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is sunshine in my soul.
There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King;
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The song I cannot sing.
Chorus . .
There is springtime in my soul today,
For when the Lord is near
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flowers of grace appear.
There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope, and praise, and love,
For the blessings which He gives me now,
For joys laid up above.
Chorus . . .
Lyrics: Eliza Edmunds Hewitt