Scripture: John 12:44-50

44 Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice, "Anyone who puts his trust in Me, puts his trust not only in Me, but in Him Who sent Me. 45 Anyone who sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me. 46 I came to the world to be a Light. Anyone who puts his trust in Me will not be in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My Words but does not believe them, I do not say he is guilty. I did not come to say the world is guilty. I came to save the world from the punishment of sin. 48 Anyone who does not receive Me and does not receive My teaching has One Who will say he is guilty. The Word that I have spoken will say he is guilty on the last day. 49 I have not spoken by My own power. The Father Who sent Me has told Me what to say and speak. 50 I know that His Word is life that lasts forever. I speak the things the Father has told Me to speak."

Meditation: To see Jesus is to see God. To hear his words is to hear the voice of God. He is the very light of God that has power to overcome the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief. God's light and truth brings healing, pardon, and transformation. This light is not only for the chosen people of Israel, but for the whole world as well.  Jesus warns that if we refuse his word or take it lightly, we  choose to remain in spiritual darkness. Jesus made it clear that he did not come to condemn us, but rather to bring abundant life and freedom from the oppression of sin, ignorance and evil. We condemn ourselves when we reject God's wisdom and truth. It is one thing to live in ignorance due to lack of knowledge, but another thing to disdain those who teach us true wisdom and knowledge. Jesus says that his word which we have heard will be our judge. Do you believe that God's word has power to change and transform your life?

God does not leave us in our ignorance and unbelief. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit he helps us to grow in faith, knowledge and understanding of his word. Augustine, the fifth century bishop of Hippo, summed up our need for God's help in the following prayer: God our Father, we find it difficult to come to you, because our knowledge of you is imperfect. In our ignorance we have imagined you to be our enemy; we have wrongly thought that you take pleasure in punishing our sins; and we have foolishly conceived you to be a tyrant over human life. But since Jesus came among us, he has shown that you are loving, and that our resentment against you was groundless. Do you want to know more of God and his transforming love? Look to Jesus, the Light of God, and in his truth you will find joy, freedom, and wholeness of mind, body and soul.

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, in your word I find life and truth. May I never doubt your word or forget your commandments. Increase my love for your word and my zeal for your righteousness."

Psalm 67:2-7

2 May Your way be known on the earth, and Your saving power among all nations.
 3 May the people praise You, O God. May all the people praise You.
 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy. For You will be fair when You judge the people and rule the nations of the earth.
 5 May the people praise You, O God. May all the people praise You.
 6 The earth has given its fruit. God, our God, will bring good to us.
 7 God will bring good to us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.