by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Facing the Light of God’s Love

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 
1 John 1:5 English Standard Version

When I saw this statue in the South Dakota state capital, I didn’t know whether the figure was looking out the window or the other way around. I didn’t know if he was looking at me or away from me. Was he facing the light or away from the light?

John reminds us that God is light. Light is one of John’s favorite subjects in both his letters and in his Gospel. He reminds us that there is no darkness in God. If you turn on a flashlight in a closet you know that the darkness must scatter. As I’m developing pictures in the darkroom, light is my enemy. Any flash of light will destroy the pictures I’ve captured.

There are people who turn their backs on the Light, people who don’t want anything to do with the penetrating warmth of God’s love. However, they cannot escape the light. Even this statue couldn’t escape the light. As I approached the statue, I could see that the light wrapped itself around the figure.

God’s light wraps around us and it dispels our darkness. God invites us to turn around and to face the light. To face Jesus, the Light of the world (John 8:12). Since we cannot hide from the light, why not turn and face it, letting the light of God’s love forgive us, comfort us, and renew us.

My cat, Cali, is follower of light. She finds a patch of light and lays down in it only to move as the light progresses across the floor. She experiences comfort and warmth in the light.

May you find comfort and warmth in the beams of God’s love for you as you face the light.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado