Today's Text and Thought of Encouragement: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27: 1 KJV The Light That Is felt "We older children grope our way, From dark behind to dark before, And only when our hands we lay, Dear Lord, in Thine, the night is day, And there is darkness nevermore." John Greenleaf Whittier Today's Study Text: "All things were made and came into existence through Him, (the Word); and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it (put it out or absorbed it.)" John 1: 3-5 Amplified Bible EXPLORATION: "He's My Friend" – Part 3 "He Is My Light and Life" "We beg You, make us really alive. Give us the spirit of light, that we may know You." Serapion (14th century) How has the light from the "Word" illuminated my journey? What do the words "everlasting life" mean to me? "Christ is the Morning Star who, when the night of this world is past brings to His saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day." V. Beds INSPIRATION: "The light of Christ burns away the shadow of the soul, throwing wide the windows of our lives, that others might enter in and they, too, find light and love." Jane Rubietta (2001) Several months ago, I came across a book which contained prayers spoken by young teens. The words below, recorded by one of the young girls named Jenny, are so appropriate for our topic today: "The light is so bright and warm. It is overwhelming and so welcoming. I walked in and felt Your power, God. Thank You." Jenny Saint Matthias High School Chicago, Illinois Light. It is defined as "electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from about 3,900 to about 7,700 angstroms and that can be perceived by the unaided, normal human eye." Now if you think I understand this definition, you are wrong. What I am able to comprehend is that light provides us with illumination. The world is brighter, even cheerier, when there's light. Maybe you have heard this comment before, "WOW! She can sure light up a room with her presence. It is almost as though she brought life into the place with her!" This is how "light" can make us feel at times. Interestingly enough, when I began to study John 1: 3-5, our study texts for today, while my initial focus was directed on the word "light," it became evident, very shortly, that in Scripture, there are repeated times when the reference to light is combined with the word life, just as John states when he wrote "the light was the life." This statement required me to think about the practical ways light brings life. A few weeks ago, I received an email from my niece Bethanie. She had asked me if I would like to assist her with the purchase of several special pots which were designed uniquely for the cultivation of vegetables. Well, what a surprise I was in for when she sent me pictures on my email of leafy lettuce, small cauliflower plants, corn, potatoes and of course, cherry tomatoes. It wasn't just the fact that these were well-watered plants growing in fertile soil that made the rapid growth possible. What was key to Bethanie's "green thumb" results, was the warm Arizona sun that at this time of year is perfectly suited to help a garden grow. No wonder the Apostle John was so keen to make the point that "the Word," which was from the beginning, brought light which resulted in life. This particular piece of information takes us back to something I touched on yesterday which directs our thoughts back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis. As we found, the "Word" was from the beginning and the "Word" was not only with God, but was God. But then the Apostle John continues by sharing with us the fact that the "word" made "all things" because "in Him was life; and that life was the light of men, and women, too!" Professor Robert Redman offers this fantastic explanation which helped me grasp what John tells us about life and light and the "Word." Here are his thoughts: "Humanity did not drain life from Jesus; rather, He injected dying humanity with life." (WOW! Praise God for this!) "The 'Word' is also the light (phõs) that enlightens life. This reality of revelation through the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is particularly important…Jesus is not merely a human word among many words; He is uniquely the Word of God by virtue of the incarnation." With this pertinent piece of information, I want to look at three critical moments in time when life and light have and will transform not only our world but our lives as well. First Transformation: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light and there was light…And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul'" (Genesis 1: 1-3, 2: 7, K.J.V.). Notice: Light comes into a dark void – then life comes to this earth. | 
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