Pause
Where God is, there is light.
Jesus came, bringing light into a dark world. Though there is still darkness, Jesus still comes, calling us to join him on the journey and giving us what we need – strength, courage, ability – to shed his light.
The promised one, the light of the world, welcomes us to follow him on the Kingdom way, the way of light. Let us turn our hearts toward him, and begin.
Listen
As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:21-23
Think
Following the light is much more than a copycat’s game of Follow the Leader. When Jesus called the fishermen, they didn’t become players in a childish pastime; they weren’t just trailing behind him trying to mimic his movements.
Following the Christ is more than just being a flat reflection of the light. When we follow him, he shares his light with us, and gives us the wisdom and courage to be part of his work. Together with him, the disciples walked through their journey, teaching, proclaiming good news, and healing.
When they followed him, they joined him in shining light into the darkness of ignorance. When they followed, they shined his light into the darkness of bad news.
When they followed, they shined his light into the darkness of brokenness. Wherever there is ignorance, bad news, and brokenness – still today – the light can shine. And it can shine through us.
Nikki Finkelstein-Blair
Pray
God, I want to be an active follower of you. Teach me to be more than a copycat; make me a true disciple. Amen.
Go
In every time, in every place, light breaks through the darkness. We don’t have to go far; God comes near and calls us, wherever we are, to follow.
So here, and now: let God’s light shine.
