Light And Darkness

This is Follow Jesus Radio, encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Light And Darkness.

John 1:5 (BSB):

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

There are seasons when life feels very dark. Sometimes that darkness comes through grief, disappointment, anxiety, loneliness, or the heavy awareness of our own sin. At other times, it comes from watching the wickedness of the world and feeling worn down by it. John 1:5 speaks into that darkness with deep comfort: the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That Light is Jesus Christ. He is not a fragile candle threatened by the winds of this world. He is the eternal Son of God, holy, sovereign, and full of grace and truth. Darkness is real, but it is not sovereign. Suffering is painful, but it is not final. Sin is powerful, but it is not greater than the Savior.

This means that when a believer feels surrounded by darkness, they are not abandoned. Christ does not cease shining because circumstances are hard. His presence is not diminished by pain. His promises do not fail in the night. Even when the heart feels weak, Christ remains strong. Even when understanding is limited, His rule is perfect. Even when tears are many, His mercy is sure.

This verse also reminds us that darkness does not win. It did not win when sinful humanity rejected Christ. It did not win at the cross. It did not win at the tomb. And it will not win in the life of any one of His people. The risen Christ will keep every person the Father has given Him.

So if the path feels dim today, do not trust your feelings above God's Word. Look to Christ. Bring your fears honestly to Him. Confess your sin plainly. Rest in His finished work. Open His Word and let His truth steady your soul. The Light is still shining, and the darkness has not overcome Him.

For the one who does not know Christ, this verse is both warning and hope. Apart from Him, you remain in darkness because of sin. But the Light still shines. Turn from your sin and trust in Christ alone. He is a sufficient Savior for all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

Not Everyone

This is Follow Jesus Radio, encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Not Everyone.

Listen to what we are told by Jesus in Matthew 7:21-27: 

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’

Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.

The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.

The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

My fellow followers of Jesus, let's remind each other this very day to make it our aim to follow only Jesus and His teachings. There are so many "voices" out there. Let's make sure the only voice we hear is that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And let's ask God to give us ministers who are faithful only to Jesus and His word.

Of course, none of us can follow Jesus unless God changes our heart. Has He changed yours? If not, ask God for that heart surgery right now.

That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.

A Great Light Has Shined

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: A Great Light Has Shined.

Let's listen to God's Word in the Gospel of Matthew:

"the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined."
— Matthew 4:16 (NLT)

And Jesus spoke to the people once more, saying:

"I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
— John 8:12 (NLT)

Think on these promises. Before we met Jesus, we were all sitting in spiritual darkness, navigating a world covered by the cold, heavy shadow of sin and death. We didn't have a clear path, and we couldn't climb out of the shadows on our own.

But the moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, that cold darkness was instantly shattered.

The wonder of this light is that it is not a set of rigid rules or a cold philosophy. It is the very presence of Jesus Christ alive in our hearts! When His light shines on us, it brings the sweet, refreshing warmth of total forgiveness. On the cross, He paid the ultimate price for our failures, washing away every dark stain of guilt and giving us a completely clean slate.

As we step out into our busy routines, our jobs, and our relationships today, we don't have to guess our way forward. We don't have to stumble in fear or confusion. Every single morning, the Light of the world is right there to direct our paths, illuminate our decisions, and quiet our worries. When we follow only Him, His Word shows us exactly how to walk with peace and hope.

Let's live in the warmth of His unconquered Light today.

That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.

Faithful in Every Season

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Faithful in Every Season.

Sometimes, as we grow older and our physical bodies grow weaker, we can find ourselves feeling a little forgotten or wondering what our purpose is in this season. But we can be grateful this very moment that our Heavenly Father never changes, and His care for us never changes.

Let's listen to this promise from the Book of Isaiah:

"and even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry, and will deliver." Isaiah 46:4

We are reminded here that our Heavenly Father who watched over us when we took our very first baby steps is the exact same God who promises to carry us all the way to the finish line.

And because God is actively carrying us, we don't have to live in fear of being cast off as our strength fades. Instead, we can pray the words of Psalm 71:18:

"Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come." 

Since He promises to hold us secure, our golden years are not a time of uselessness. They are an opportunity to tell the next generation that Jesus saves.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful care all our lives. Thank You that You carry us when our strength fails. Use us to share the Good News of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.

That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.