Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 7, 2021
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:6-9 (NRSV)
One of the great mysteries of faith is the fact that God uses sinful, broken people to reveal his glory to the world. John the Baptist, though honorable and faithful in so many ways, was still a flawed human being. However, the strength of his witness was not tied to his personal power but was found in his ability to point others to Christ in and through the way he lived his life. He was not the light, yet he knew it was his calling to testify to the light of Christ.
I wonder, do you believe you have a similar call upon your life? Do you see it as central to the work of each and every Christian, or instead is it the work of the select few, those with “missionary” or “evangelist” in their title? While some followers of Jesus give their life to evangelistic work in beautiful and sacrificial ways, it doesn’t mean the rest of us are off the hook!
The more we grow in our relationship with Christ, the more we are meant to become like him. And to be like Christ is to invite others to know and encounter the love of the Father, to allow his light to shine through us in such a way that we neither distract from nor diminish the light, but let it be a source of transformation in those around us.
This is not a requirement to be perfect or without sin. Christ’s light is able to shine even in spite of our weak faith or doubt-filled hearts. And yet, if we will let him, his light not only shines through us to others, it transforms, heals, and restores us in the process. Simply put, your healing finds full expression when your faith is lived for the sake of others and for the good of your neighbor.
The first step of testifying to the light is learning to attentively look for signs of Christ’s work in your life, signs that are often found in simple and easily overlooked places. A friend of mine used to ask himself every week, “What has God done for me this week, and what have I done for God?” Simple as those two questions are, they are a profound first step in learning to testify, for they teach us to expectantly look for the light of God in our lives, and to share that light with others for their good and his glory!
Prayer
Father, teach us to testify to the light of Christ in all that we do, so that we can be healed and be agents of your healing in the world. Amen.
Application
How can you begin to testify to the light of Christ in your own life and closest relationships?
Related Reading
Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5
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