Darkness and Light

<p>As I sat in the courtroom, I witnessed several examples of the brokenness of our world: a daughter estranged from her mother; a husband and wife who&rsquo;d lost the love they once had and now shared only bitterness; a husband yearning for reconciliation with his wife and to be reunited with his children. They were in desperate need of changed hearts, healing of wounds, and for God&rsquo;s love to prevail.</p> <p>Sometimes when the world around us seems to hold only darkness and despair, it&rsquo;s easy to give in to despair. But then the Spirit, who lives inside believers in Christ (John 14:26), reminded me that Jesus died for that brokenness and pain. When Jesus came into the world as a human, He brought light into the darkness (John 1:4; 8:12). We see this in His conversation with Nicodemus, who furtively came to Jesus in the cover of darkness, but left impacted by the Light (3:1&ndash;2; 19:38&ndash;40).</p> <p>Jesus taught Nicodemus that &ldquo;God so loved&nbsp;the world that he gave&nbsp;his one and only Son,&nbsp;that whoever believes&nbsp;in him shall not perish but have eternal life&rdquo; (3:16).</p> <p>Yet even though Jesus brought light and love into the world, many remain lost in the darkness of their sin (vv. 19&ndash;20). If we&rsquo;re His followers, we have the light that dispels darkness. In gratitude, let&rsquo;s pray that God make us beacons of His love (Matthew 5:14&ndash;16).</p>