Stan and I got together again for breakfast. As we were enjoying our time together, he mentioned a conversation he’d had with a neighbor who had a pretty dark past, but he had been called by God out of that darkness. “What kind of darkness?” I asked.
“He didn’t say,” Stan replied, “and I didn’t ask. He just said he had been involved in some pretty dark stuff before God called him out of that into something else.”
“Did he say anything about that ‘something else’?”
“He certainly did,” Stan said with a smile. “That’s his testimony. He was called out of the darkness where he was into God’s light”
“God’s light,” I repeated. “That’s a stark contrast to the darkness of the world.”
“It certainly is,” Stan agreed, “and seeing that contrast has led my neighbor to do the same thing the apostle Peter wrote about in one his letters.”
“What’s that?”
“To proclaim the excellence of the One who called him out of the darkness.”
“Proclaiming God’s excellence,” I said. “I guess that’s a pretty good thing to do.”
“That’s a good guess,” Stan replied with a smile, “but shouldn’t it more than a guess? Isn’t that what all of us are to do after we’ve been called out of the darkness?”
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Bible verses to consider:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9.
Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way into the light of life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t proclaim your excellence to others so they, too, will come to you and your light. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life of light you’ve provided. Help me follow every step of your lead in proclaiming your excellence so others will come into your light and, in turn, proclaim your excellence. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you been called out of the darkness into God’s marvelous light by accepting His free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with proclaiming to others God’s excellence? How about helping others come into His light? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only be called out of the darkness into His light, but what He knows you need to proclaim His excellence and help others come into His light? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be a part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?