Tag: darkness

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Walking in the Light

by Kala Loptien

No Darkness

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

Our Lutheran school kiddos often sing in church. One of their favorite songs is I want to Walk as a Child of the Light. I love listening to children’s voices, joined together in joyful song. It’s especially sweet when they get to a familiar section. Suddenly, the whole sanctuary echoes with:

In Him, there is no darkness at allThe night and the day are both alikeThe Lamb is the light of the city of GodShine in my heart, Lord Jesus* 

We read about light and darkness throughout scripture. In 1 Thessalonians, we are referred to as children of the light and children of the day. Jesus is very clear in John 8 when He proclaims, “I am the light of the world.” We are promised that we will never walk in darkness when we follow him. The Old testament adds a prophetic exclamation point to this in Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

The contrast is stark. Light exposes, shines and spreads. It allows for clear vision and highlights the beauty of all God’s creation. On the contrary, darkness covers, confuses, creating unclear paths and heightens fear. When we walk as children of light, we have Jesus, the light of the world, as our guide. He is the way, the truth and the life. In Him there is no darkness at all. Our lives, in turn, should be a reflection of that brilliant, beautiful light.

Lord, thank you for Jesus. Help us shine our light and share the light of the world with others. Amen.

*Thomerson, Kathleen. “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.” 1999

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

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PWTE Daily Devotion

The Rock of Peace

by Desiree Bustamante

Christ the Rock of our salvation is the only source of lasting peace.

“You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 New Living Translation

God has always promised to hold us in His care, and nothing in heaven or on earth can separate us from His love or His presence. Yet we live in a world marked by sin and brokenness. Because of that, we are not shielded from hardship. Storms may flood our homes, wildfires may consume what we’ve built, jobs may disappear without warning, and unexpected illness may interrupt our plans and shake our sense of security.

But none of these circumstances have the power to defeat us when we stay close to Christ. He invites us to trust Him fully, especially when life feels catastrophic. As we lean into Him with our whole heart, His peace begins to blanket us. It’s a peace that defies explanation, a peace so real we sense it settling deep within us. When our thoughts turn toward Christ instead of our circumstances, our faith grows steadier. We become anchored in His strength and His love, the way massive rock formations are anchored deep into the earth.

Christ is our eternal Rock—unshakable, immovable, and never at risk of collapse no matter how fierce the storm. His love is everlasting, and His presence is constant and He has overcome the darkness of the world. This is why we can experience joy even during dark and troubled times. Hold tightly to that joy and hope each day, whether you face calamity or calm. He is your Rock, and in Him you are secure.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

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PWTE Daily Devotion

It Is Finished

By Katy Mariotti

Already Done

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30, English Standard Version

I’ve always liked Good Friday, which seems like an odd thing to say.  Over the past couple weeks I’ve been trying to determine why.  It’s dark.  It’s emotional.  We hear about the horrific sufferings and death of our Lord.  We dwell in the reality of what He did for us, which can make one feel guilty and unworthy, which of course we are.  What is there to like?

I don’t really have an answer, but the reason I CAN like it is because the story doesn’t end there.  It ends with hope.  I can sit in the darkness because there is light when it is over.  And that darkness ALREADY happened.  Jesus gave His life ALREADY.  We are saved!  As this sunset reminds us, the Son is always there.  No matter what darkness reaches us in this life, we gained hope long ago.  Our Easter joy is with us, even on this Good Friday.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado