Living In The Power Of God’s Light

Sometimes in our homes and communities there is no light because the power has gone out. We need power to have light. The same can be said of one’s spiritual walk. Matthew 5:16 tells us to “let your light shine before others, so that they will see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” The source of that light is the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Even though that was written to the disciples of that time, it still applies to all Christians today, to spread the Gospel of light around the world.

Just like in our homes when we have power, we still have to turn on the light. How does one “turn on” the power of the Holy Spirit to give light to a darkened world? We must first recognize that we all have a struggle between our spiritual and carnal natures, which dims the light. So, we must feed the spirit but deny the desires of the flesh. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”(Galatians 5:16). Exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in our daily conversations and interactions with others. These fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These “spiritual light bulbs” will not shine to a darkened world unless we are connected to the divine power source. In addition Ephesians 5:11 tells us to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

The problem is that light exposes what is going on in the darkness, and “people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil”(John 3:19). Being a bold witness through the fruits of the power source-the Holy Spirit-will help people see the contrast between darkness and light, but what will draw them into the light? It will happen by living in the light and sharing  the Gospel of the One who is the light. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When one accepts Jesus for who He claims to be, they will “be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

“Lord God, help us all as Christians to walk in your light through the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you that your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). We pray that others will be attracted to the light of the Gospel and will experience the peace, joy, and contentment of living in the light. May our spiritual lights shine brightly into this darkened culture. In Jesus name, Amen.”