Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper room Daily Devotional "Walking In His Light" for Tuesday, 17 June 2014 - Read John 1:1-5

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper room Daily Devotional "Walking In His Light" for Tuesday, 17 June 2014 - Read John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome [a] it.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:5 The word translated “overcome” (katelaben) can also be translated “comprehended.” It refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12 (NRSV))
On the day we moved to our new farm home in January 1940, my eight-year-old world suddenly became larger and more intimidating than ever before. After supper, Dad invited me to go with him to check the animals for the night. As we walked, my dad’s kerosene lantern swung, its light moving back and forth as though alive. The shadows seemed to move and come ever closer. “Dad!” I cried out in fear. He suddenly stopped, and I ran smack-dab into him. Dad’s chuckle came just before he said, “Don’t be afraid. Just walk to the edge of the light.” Just as my earthly father comforted me, so our heavenly Father comforts us in our moments of fear when darkness threatens to consume us. As our quoted verse states, if we follow Jesus, we will never walk in darkness. When the nightly news is filled with reports of economic stress, terrorism, catastrophic weather, and uncertainty for the future of our families, darkness can overwhelm us. Yet even in the darkest moments, the light of Christ still goes before us. His light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. We need not fear. Christ is constantly providing a circle of his light as our place of safety and comfort.
The Author: Jack D. Kendall (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: Jesus has commissioned us to share his light with the world.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, even though the future is not clear, may we find comfort in the knowledge that you are already there, lighting the way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer focus: Those facing dark days
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