Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:20-21, NIV)
If we lined up all Saturday morning’s golfers and assigned captains for two sides to pick their teams, where would your selection come? Would you be picked first? Last? Somewhere in the middle? What competitive characteristics or strengths in your game would make you a desirable teammate?
OK, OK, I’m only jesting. You can start breathing again. This isn’t going to happen. Golf—at least under normal circumstances—doesn’t shake down like this. Just put your foursome together and play whatever comfortable game you’d like.
When it comes to the outworking of your faith, however, here’s something you’ll need to understand: There are two definite sides, and you’re going to have to choose. Maybe every day. Maybe every hour.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who knew his Bible, once echoed John’s gospel in today’s passage when he said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
So that’s where we begin today. On one side there is darkness and on the other there is light. Satan rules the darkness; Christ commands the light. Though the second is infinitely greater and eternally established, the first contends—and his battleground is the hearts (or affections) of people.
We all would rather live in the context of comfortable. In this dreamland, we hang out only with those who love us and share our values. Our faith grows in the sunshine. The doctor never calls, the kids all find success, the roof doesn’t leak, and our singing voice improves every Sunday.
That version of life is a fantasy, which the Bible is not. On every page, we see examples of hardship or warnings of persecution. We ache with Hannah, hurt with Job, weep with Jeremiah, and sigh with Jesus. We might even suffer torture with Paul or die with Stephen. All these people encountered the darkness that comes when Satan has his way on earth. And all of them resisted.
We’ll let Dr. King preach again, for he said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Do we step out into the light, standing with Jesus? This is our place if our trust is in him. The enemy will come, tempting and trying. But we must resist the devil, that he will flee from us. We must draw near to God, that he will draw near to us. James wrote these exhortations 2,000 years ago. If we take them up, they still embolden us today.
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Jeff Hopper
January 15, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.