#1122. God made His light shine in our hearts (15/8/24)

https://www.communitychurchputney.com/post/1122-god-made-his-light-shine-in-our-hearts-15-8-24

Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Carrying on from yesterday’s devotional, I wanted to think a little more about our ministry of being witnesses to the light.

To watch this devotional, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/ZYJ-1PtEqtk

‘Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

2 Corinthians 4:1–6

Yesterday, as we reflected on John 1:1-5, we saw that only Jesus can impart spiritual life through which they see the light of Jesus. This teaching can be both releasing and perplexing. It’s releasing to know that Jesus can open people’s eyes to the gospel; however, it can be perplexing in the sense of understanding our role and whether we can actually help anyone in which Jesus is not choosing to work.

John 1:1–5

i. Only God can give spiritual life

Firstly, regardless of our concerns, is it never-the-less true that only Jesus can give spiritual life and light - salvation - to people? Today’s text makes it clear that, as in physical creation, only God can impart spiritual re-creation. We are told that, ‘God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’

ii. We are witnesses to the Light - witnesses to Jesus

Secondly, we have a role to play. Yesterday, in John 1:1-5, saw John described:

John 1:1–5

‘He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.’ (John 1:8-9)

John 1:8–9

Likewise, today’s text says a lot about the role that we are to play in helping people to come to Jesus. We are told, for example, to ‘not lose heart’ and ‘not use deception, nor … distort the word of God’ and ‘[set] forth the truth plainly’ and ‘preach… not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ - We are given the manner and matter of our witnessing.

Today’s text can be seen as having two contradicting ideas: how is it that I can help people come to salvation whilst it’s only God who can save! However, this text does, unashamedly, contain both ideas and so must we! We are to minister in the ways outlined and we are to believe that only God can give light to blind eyes!

The New Testament approach to evangelism is humility and activity; we humbly accept that sin means that all are blinded from seeing Christ and their need of Him; only the life and light-giving ministry of the Spirit can cause people to see and receive Jesus. Secondly, we are to be active as witnesses to the light. God works through us in the process and spiritual rebirth.