1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 - Children of the Light

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (NIV)

On chilly summer nights at our cabin in northern Minnesota, I used to turn on the floodlights that were on each corner of the structure. It wasn't long before I'd see the reflection of the first insect's wings as the light bounced off of them.........and it wasn't long after that before I'd see a vortex of insects flying in seeming chaos before the strong beam of light.

And beyond the light was a darkness that seemed to abruptly start at a particular point. And past that point only occasionally would the darkness be broken by the strong light of a star.......beyond those lights there was a darkness filled only with the sounds of the night.........sometimes a loon would frantically call out its cry which was soon swallowed by a cacophony of sound from crickets and frogs and other creatures of the night.

It wasn't long, however, before the light again caught my attention as I noticed the horde of flying insects seemed to double since I last observed them.

So when I read tonight's scripture I recalled that scene from my past because the parallels between that experience, the scripture, and my walk with the Lord are striking.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 (NIV))

And like the insects, I and others are drawn to the Light of the Lord........it brings us together......(those who have purposed to be creatures of the Living Light)............and we fly around It each with our unique characteristics of flight.

And beyond the light is the darkness............which is benign to me when I'm covered by the Light........but if I venture beyond It too far..........it isn't long before the darkness begins to swallow me............I feel the chill of it............and I turn instinctively back toward the comfort and warmth of the Light.

The Light of the World draws me.........then sustains me as I fly the pattern of my life............until one day when my body falls to the ground and is consumed by it, and my spirit then goes to become one with the Light.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on December 30, 2003 in post #442. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 17, 2006

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