I Am Light, episode 84

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If you love a prodigal, you can discover help and hope for your wilderness journey right here

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when you love a prodigal.

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And also help and hope for your own life journey.

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Last week we looked at the first of seven I Am's that Jesus called himself.

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Names that assure us that he is everything we need in life.

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And that's going to help us make it through our wilderness journey.

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Today we look at a second I Am that is very meaningful to me.

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Be sure to jot down what it might mean for you.

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Jidu! That's my grandmother name. Jidu! It's dark!

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My grandson was spending the night.

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He whimpered, I'm afraid of the dark.

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After a few reassurances and a night light, he went back to sleep.

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I understand, I'm a little afraid of the dark too.

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Just the other night my husband was gone and the wind was howling.

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Clouds cloaked the moon and heavy rain completed the darkness.

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Then the noise started.

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Repeated sounds like someone walking downstairs.

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Should I panic? What will I do?

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No, I know that noise I thought.

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I've heard it before.

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It's just the tree branches blowing against and scraping against the windows.

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My fear subsided.

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But still I prefer light, not dark.

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I turn lights on, I open blinds, close off dark rooms.

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I'm grateful that my ever-present phone, except when I forget it,

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gives me instant access to light.

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So are you afraid of the dark?

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Most of us wisely have some fear of the dark because bad things can happen in the dark.

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Little things like I stumble and stub my toe.

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Or I get lost, especially driving where I'm not familiar.

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I even have accidents because I can't see where I'm going.

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But even more, there is evil, sometimes terrible evil, lurking in the darkness.

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So I want a nightlight in the hall, a flashlight on the path, headlights on the car,

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streetlights on the road, and sunshine in the sky.

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I love light.

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But too often, perhaps now, our world seems very dark.

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And our journey with our prodigals can be a significant reason for the darkness that we experience day to day.

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But gratefully, there is a light.

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His name is Jesus.

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We first learn about his gift of light to us in John chapter 1.

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In him, John writes, was life.

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And that life was the light of all mankind.

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

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He goes on and says, There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

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He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

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He himself, John, was not the light.

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He came only as a witness to the light.

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The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

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And of course, that light was Jesus.

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Probably, you prefer light over darkness.

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Most people do.

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And hopefully, you have discovered the light of Jesus in your life.

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But perhaps you make occasional visits to the darkness, because we are not perfect.

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We make bad choices.

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We sin.

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Then that light of Jesus living in us breaks through and expels the darkness and leads us back into the light.

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But some do prefer darkness.

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John tells us more about light and darkness.

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He said, God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

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Sadly, this refers to many of our prodigals.

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They are choosing, at least at this time, to spurn the light and love the darkness.

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They make sad choices.

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They get lost.

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They put their lives at risk.

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They break our hearts.

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They abandon the lighted path that God gives them and stumble around in the dark.

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But one day, in answer to our prayers, and because of God's faithful love, Jesus will stand before them and speak these words,

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I am the light of the world.

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And on that day, we pray they receive that statement and the words that follow.

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This is Jesus saying, If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness.

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Because you will have the light that leads to life.

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So how do they get that?

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Where does this happen?

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When do they decide to choose light over darkness?

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Because the light can shine through us.

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Often, we will be the conveyors of that light.

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You see, if Jesus, through his Spirit, dwells in you, and you become the light,

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that's what Jesus is talking about.

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In fact, he says this amazing thing.

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I mean, think about this.

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Jesus said, You, that's you and me.

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You are the light of the world.

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Okay, it's one thing when Jesus says he is the light of the world.

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But then when he says we are the light of the world, how is that possible?

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Because he's living in us through his Spirit.

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He says, You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

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No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

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Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house.

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In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see,

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so that everyone will praise you and pat you on the back.

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No, no.

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Let the light of Christ shine through you, and everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

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Do you see what an amazing truth that is?

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Jesus will shine his light through you.

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The more you live and love like Jesus, the brighter his light will be.

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And as you give love and offer mercy and extend grace, which God has given to us,

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to your loved prodigals, the more likely they are to grow weary of the dark and turn to the light.

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When they see your light shining, the light of Christ coming through you,

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they're going to think, That looks pretty good.

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I think I would like to live in the light.

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God may also shine his light through others to woo our wanderers back.

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That happened many times with our son.

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Over those 15 years, he would bring different people into his life

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who let the light of Christ shine through them.

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And they caused him to want it.

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And for a little while, he would choose it.

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He wasn't quite ready to give in, though.

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I believe, though, that his light, the light of Christ, in us,

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will be the best beacon of hope to those we pray for.

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We pray, but I believe God's light shining through us will draw them to himself.

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So what about you?

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When do you need light for your life?

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What made it look like if the light of Jesus would consistently shine through you

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to your loved prodigal?

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Write down some thoughts you have.

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Is there some way you talk to them, some way you reach out to them,

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some way you do your boundaries and consequences that send them back to darkness?

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Are there ways that you instead can be a light to lead them to the way?

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Just a reminder, tell your friends who have a prodigal about this podcast.

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We love it if you subscribe and rate it and review it.

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It helps more people know how to live and love with a prodigal.

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Let me have a prayer for you.

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I'm going to do this each week as we talk about these I Am's of Jesus.

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So this week, Lord, may your light so shine through me, through you,

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that others, especially my prodigal, will see your light, your love, your grace,

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and will turn from darkness to light.

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God bless you.