Truth or Silence

~~~ Deuteronomy 13:41C-62~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~

~~~ John 8:12-20 ~~~

“I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.” 

God sheds light where darkness prevails...
Susanna was sentenced to death
after two men lied about the facts.

Daniel, inspired by God,
had the men questioned separately.
He suspected that their individual stories would be different.
Both men had stories that contradicted each other.

Daniel shows how the light of the truth
saves those who hope in the Lord.

The two who lied about Susanna were they
themselves sentenced to death.

The light of life over shadows the darkness of lies.
Lies do not support life, it is in truth that life survives.

...even if I should judge, my judgment is valid,
because I am not alone,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.

In our court rooms today we have testimonies
 from witness stories that often do not match.

It is the duty of the jury to make a decision
based on the testimonies heard.

Jesus does not struggle with who is telling the truth
because his insight is validated by God the Father.

The Light sees through lies...
The Light invites us out of the darkness.

No one can testify on behalf of Jesus
except the Father.
The elders were bothered because
 they could not verify the testimony of Jesus

Blessed always in the truth.

Choose to speak words of truth
or opt for silence.

~~~Peace~~~

You Are a Light to Others

 

~~~ Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 ~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~ John 8:12-20 ~~~

 

As we saw yesterday, if a woman was caught in adultery

the punishment was death by stoning.

Today we have the little known story of Susanna.

She was a noble woman who was wrongfully accused of adultery

by two seemingly conniving men.

 

These two men concocted a false story because Susanna refused

to commit the sin of adultery with them while bathing in her own garden.

Basically the plan of these two peeping toms blew up in their faces.

 

The wisdom of Daniel prevented the death of Susanna.

Daniel proved that each man was lying when their stories did not match

when questioned separately.

This form of questioning is still used today by law enforcement.

 

God used Daniel to save the life of an innocent woman, Susanna.

Her prayers were answered. She never turned away from God.

Her faith prevailed in the justice of God.

 

 ...I fear no evil; for you are at my side...

 

Susanna believed in the Lord

even when she was walking in the valley of darkness.

 

 

The very next verse following the woman caught in adultery

being saved by Jesus are his words of light.

“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”

 

This statement made by Jesus about himself

is one of seven great 'I am...' statements. 

The coming of Jesus to humanity brought light to the world.

The world would no longer be in darkness.

Jesus brings with him the light of clarity.

But in spite of this light many remained in darkness.

Today many also remain in the darkness of their sinfulness.

 

Unlike a light bulb casting light into a space...

the light coming from Jesus is seen by those who have the desire...

those who believe.

 

Before the coming of Jesus God himself was the light.

Jesus makes this light visible.

Jesus makes this light available for us.

Jesus makes God visible to us through taking on or human form.

The light of Jesus makes all things visible including

 the truth about our own sinfulness.

 

Just as the temple was filled with light from the menorah at night;

Jesus would bring such a light to the whole world.

Jesus uses a metaphor here of light;

the people were all familiar with the contrast between

darkness and light.

 

Unlike most of our politicians today;

Jesus kept all of his promises made to us.

Jesus came to be the light for the whole world

not just one chosen group of people.

His light is also one that sustains life.

Just as all living things need sunlight to survive

we too need the light of Jesus to survive.

Our spiritual life is sustained though the light of Christ.

Sadly some people cannot see even when

the light is streaming in from all sides.

 

Because we share in the life of Jesus we too are called to a light for others.

This is a humbling responsibility;

to be a light for someone's walk in life.

It might only be our example that shines brightly,

it might be a single word spoken in kindness to a stranger.

We may never know how our light has touched someone .

What we can be confident of,

 is that if we have Christ with us, his light will shine through us.

The light of Christ helps us to see ourselves as God sees us.

 

What will you do today to insure

you are shining the light of Christ brightly?

You too are the light of the world.

We live and move and have our being in God.

You are Blessed!