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A Prayer and Fasting Devotional

ThinkstockPhotos-186327327"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:4-5

Looking at the world in which we live, we can easily become overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by evil, pain, sadness, frustration, and fear. So many things in this world cause us to ask, "Why, Lord?" and "How long?" And, truthfully, the broken things in a big, bad world aren’t just a distant reality. We see it in our lives; hear echoes of it in our thoughts. There is sin and brokenness all around us and in us. Thankfully the true and good news of the Gospel rushes into view, and light undoes the darkness. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and to redeem a broken world. He came to be a light and undo the darkness around us. He is light, and in His resurrection He beat sin, death, and hell. His light brings with it life. There is eternal life with God forever and a new life in this world to which He has called us.

Amazingly, Jesus makes this declaration: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). 

We are to walk as Jesus did and continue what He began. Our story is redeemed, and, in Christ, our new identity is made known by undoing the darkness around us. You are, we are, the light of the world. We carry the hope of the Gospel and live out that Gospel. Our good deeds are the means by which people know whose we are. Today, look into the Word and ask the Lord what it looks like for you to shine light into a dark place, and then walk in obedience to Him, in humility and faith, to the glory of God.  

Rachel Suarez
Ministry Fellow at Princeton