Weekly devotion Bearing witness to the true Light

— "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:6-9

John the Baptist was sent by God to bear witness to Jesus Christ, God's Son and the Light of the world. John was "the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3). He did not seek to gain a following for himself, but called upon all people to repent of their sins and trust in the Messiah and Savior who was about to appear. John testified of Jesus, that He is God the Son and the Savior who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

We too are called to bear witness to Jesus, the Light of the world, that all might place their trust in Him for forgiveness and life everlasting (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16)! We are not to proclaim ourselves to be the light, but Jesus; for only He can give light and life to men. We of ourselves cannot forgive sins or give life everlasting; but Jesus paid in full for the sins of the world when He suffered and died upon the cross and rose again, and Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and the everlasting joys of heaven to all mankind.

Jesus is the true Light which shines upon the people of this world, offering them forgiveness and life. We can only reflect that Light and point people to Jesus that they too might know Him and trust in Him for life and salvation.

Dear Jesus, grant that we would not proclaim ourselves to be the light and seek to gain a following for ourselves. But, rather, grant that we would proclaim You to be the Light of the world and the only Savior of mankind! Amen.

[Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible. Devotion from The Still Small Voice, Gentry, Ark., www.thestillsmallvoice.com.]

For The Record, Pages 4 on 07/29/2009