The Lord Is My Light!
is for Love and Light!
– God is Love, and His Love is different from
human love.
human love.
– Light is the radiance or illumination from a
particular source.
From childhood, I could recite theverse – God is love. I sang the song,
“Jesus loves me, this I know!” I knew
the words, but had no idea what these words mean. What is this mysterious thing called
love? How do we know what love is? It isn’t just a feeling. Love comes from the heart, which has nothing
to do with the five senses. It isn’t
just an act of giving or serving. It is
the essence of God. It separates those
who love God and those who do not.
Dear
friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone
who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does
not know God for God is love.
I John 4:7-8
friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone
who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does
not know God for God is love.
I John 4:7-8
Without God, there is no love. Loving others is sometimes a difficult task,
one that requires more than human will.
Love involves many aspects. It
brings hope, joy and peace. Love brings
the strength and the will to forgive.
one that requires more than human will.
Love involves many aspects. It
brings hope, joy and peace. Love brings
the strength and the will to forgive.
In I Corinthians 13:4-7, is the
definition of love. In this day and age,
many like to take tests to learn about themselves. Verses 4 – 7:
definition of love. In this day and age,
many like to take tests to learn about themselves. Verses 4 – 7:
•
Love is patient and kind.
Love is patient and kind.
• Love is not jealous or boastful or
proud or rude.
proud or rude.
• It does not demand its own way.
• It is not irritable,
• It keeps no record of being wronged.
• It
does not rejoice about injustice
does not rejoice about injustice
• But rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
• Love never gives up,
• Never loses faith,
• Is always hopeful,
• And endures through every circumstance.
“This
is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to take away our sins.” I John 4:10
is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to take away our sins.” I John 4:10
With love comes light. When I asked my husband which came first,
Love or Light, he answered, “Love came
first from God, because He created light on the earth.”
Love or Light, he answered, “Love came
first from God, because He created light on the earth.”
This
is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and
there is no darkness in him at all. I John 1:5.
is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and
there is no darkness in him at all. I John 1:5.
Have you ever wondered why God created
the sun to shine on the earth? One
reason is that He IS light. We are
bereft when the man-made power is not working, and our world is plunged into
darkness. We are used to having
instant-light at the flip of a switch to brighten our world. We even have mobile lights to find our way in
the dark, so we do not stumble. We call
them flashlights. Last night I saw
lightening bugs flashing their way – almost there. Is that the way our feeble
man-made lights appear to God?
the sun to shine on the earth? One
reason is that He IS light. We are
bereft when the man-made power is not working, and our world is plunged into
darkness. We are used to having
instant-light at the flip of a switch to brighten our world. We even have mobile lights to find our way in
the dark, so we do not stumble. We call
them flashlights. Last night I saw
lightening bugs flashing their way – almost there. Is that the way our feeble
man-made lights appear to God?
Have you wondered what would happen if
God withdrew from the world and all He created for our pleasure, as some would
desire? Would man-made light take its
place in the darkness that would ensue? Or could they function without the hand
of God present?
God withdrew from the world and all He created for our pleasure, as some would
desire? Would man-made light take its
place in the darkness that would ensue? Or could they function without the hand
of God present?
What is love? To know what love is, we must know what love
isn’t. It is not putting on pride,
shame, guilt or manipulating our friends or family. To know love is to put on compassion,
patience, understanding, and know the essence of God, for God IS love.
isn’t. It is not putting on pride,
shame, guilt or manipulating our friends or family. To know love is to put on compassion,
patience, understanding, and know the essence of God, for God IS love.
Love illuminates and clarifies. Love reveals truth. Love gives strength and endurance. Love lightens the dark corners and secrets of
our heart and washes away sin and shame.
our heart and washes away sin and shame.
Love does not pick and choose the
recipient of love. “Love thy neighbor as thyself!” Tangible Love came into this world
through God’s Gift of Grace, His Son, Jesus, who died for us.
recipient of love. “Love thy neighbor as thyself!” Tangible Love came into this world
through God’s Gift of Grace, His Son, Jesus, who died for us.
The promise is: ‘for it is written, “As
I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God.” Romans 14:11
I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God.” Romans 14:11
We learn about the truest and authentic
kind of love from our Lord God, who shows us each day what love is. And His Love brings Light and Hope in every
aspect of our lives. His Love is
Everlasting and Steadfast. His Love
never burns out; it doesn’t flicker. His
love burns steadily and forever. His
Love has a message – an invitation – to come to Him and live in His Presence
forever.
kind of love from our Lord God, who shows us each day what love is. And His Love brings Light and Hope in every
aspect of our lives. His Love is
Everlasting and Steadfast. His Love
never burns out; it doesn’t flicker. His
love burns steadily and forever. His
Love has a message – an invitation – to come to Him and live in His Presence
forever.
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast
love endures forever;
love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast
love endures forever;
love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast
love endures forever. Psalm 136:6-8
love endures forever. Psalm 136:6-8
The song, “Love is On the Way,” describes the
arrival the hope for each of us in Jesus.
arrival the hope for each of us in Jesus.
We were broken, hiding from His face / Drowning in all our
sin and shame
sin and shame
Lost
in darkness, then we heard Him say / Have no fear, love is on the way
in darkness, then we heard Him say / Have no fear, love is on the way
Christ
our Savior, laid His glory by / Died our death, rose to give us life
our Savior, laid His glory by / Died our death, rose to give us life
Now
in heaven waiting for the day / He shall come, love is on the way
in heaven waiting for the day / He shall come, love is on the way
Forever,
God, we declare Your greatness / You deserve all the highest praise
God, we declare Your greatness / You deserve all the highest praise
Evermore
may Your Kingdom reign now / All the earth will say, love is on the way
may Your Kingdom reign now / All the earth will say, love is on the way
You
gave it all to rescue me / I offer all, my everything.
gave it all to rescue me / I offer all, my everything.
…(Caleb Clements, Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins)
Comments? eacombs@att.net