Following The Light ... Or Just in traffic?


 John 8:12 

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

There is no doubt in the statement here that Jesus the Son of God is equivalent to LIGHT in the world and in our lives. The emphatic statement that 'whoever FOLLOWS the Lord will NEVER walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of life' is key to note. You see, you can go to church on Sunday and not necessarily be FOLLOWING Jesus. You can say and write christian statements or make christian sounding proclamations and yet not be FOLLOWING JESUS.  This is because 'following' comes after a decision, and is personal, intentional, as well as progressive.  

When cars move behind each other in traffic, they are not necessarily FOLLOWING each other. WHY? because none of the drivers in traffic DECIDED from home to follow car number so and so or truck number so and so. They are simply going their own way and are on their own individual quests and pursuits. It just so happens that because of the traffic jam, they seem to be following each other. Its just a matter of time therefore when it gets to a bend or a junction or curve, many cars or all cars will branch into individual directions. Sometimes life's traffic jams makes it seem as if people are following Jesus. You may be at a place where you are surrounded by Christians so it seems as if you are even FOLLOWING JESUS but when individuals get to curves and bends in their lives or when you get to a critical junction where you have to take certain decisions or make some choices, that is when it truly becomes clear if you have been FOLLOWING Jesus all along or not. Sometimes you may be shocked to realize that you have been going along with the traffic flow of religiosity, but you are not actually a true believer or follower of JESUS. 

Sometimes we enjoy the good feeling of doing christian things that satisfy our conscience every now and then because these things make us feel like we are 'on good terms with God' but we may not actually be involving God in our personal affairs. Note that the Lord did not say 'pray to me' 'give me offering' or 'sing praises to me'  though all these things are good, He says 'FOLLOW me...and you will not walk in darkness'. Actually, praying, singing or offering something to God only has power and relevance when it comes from the heart of a FOLLOWER. That means many religious activities can still leave us in darkness, searching for God and never finding, seeking LIGHT and direction and never sure because WE DO NOT FOLLOW the Lord.  Have you personally accepted Jesus into your life? and if you have, have you been FOLLOWING Him? Because without this, you will live in darkness all your life! 

 Maybe you have branched out of your walk with God unto your own way and have ended up following other things, neglecting the Lord your savior whom you believed in. It is time to seek Him again and FOLLOW Him. And even if you have accepted Christ and you have a relationship with God you may need to remind yourself not to just be in a state of following routine but actually FOLLOWING JESUS.

 Because Psalm 119 : 9-11 Says,

How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.

So  A true FOLLOWER 
  • keeps himself in a certain way, in order not to be defiled.
  • he takes measures to guard himself and his faith
  • he seeks God with his whole heart
  • He stores the messages and Words he hears from God 
  • And he applies it, he lives with it practically, so that he will be pleasing to His maker. 
Are you keeping yourself separate from defilement, are you guarding your heart? do you know Gods word? are you storing it, thinking it through, considering it as important? are you applying it in anyway to your life and is it keeping you from sin or are you just 'going with the flow' and still saying you are Christian.


Meditate on these questions and take a minute to pray.

Pray and ask for Grace to FOLLOW the Lord sincerely and seriously today, especially if you are already a Christian.  Ask the Lord to help you draw closer to Him if you have drifted away and ask Him to lead you into the LIGHT, and to renew your mind and change your desires so that you begin to FOLLOW Him personally and sincerely  AMEN!




/alice dadzie blighton /devotional blog/

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