Wednesday
YOUR WORD, THE LAMP AND THE LIGHT
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “Your word is a lamp for my feet a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105, ESV
Theme: Line up your decisions with what the Word of God says.
LIGHT FOR MY PATH
The pea-gravel footpath from the driveway to our front porch is lined with shin-high lights that illuminate during set times. They turn on at dark, stay illuminated throughout the night, and switch off just after dawn. The lights are low to the ground and have a lampshade-type lid to direct light downward. It is essential to see where you walk on our uneven path. This helps prevent encountering an obstacle like the stone and wooden stairs, rocks lining the curved path, and stepping-stones, not to mention the possibility of a snake! With lighting for the path, you can see which way is preferred, unobstructed, and most direct.
In the back yard, we have different lighting. There are flood lights near the door and ornamental solar lanterns. When the flood lights are off, the lanterns are so cutely lit up and hanging on hooks, creating a gentle glow. However, they are useless to light the way. The light from the lantern has no lampshade and shines towards my eyes when I hold it in front of me. I must look past the light to see my feet, but then I can’t see anything except the hand holding the lantern. If I hold it up above my head, I still can’t see the ground because the light diffuses and weakens by the time its beams reach the ground. The lantern is fine if I’m seated nearby with its glow diffusing from a hook overhead, but it’s useless if I grab it to walk down a path.
GOING SOMEWHERE
I need light if I’m trying to move around in the dark. I don’t really need light if I’m staying still or in bed going to sleep. Today’s Scripture refers to feet on a path ready to move. The person connected to those feet has to determine which way to proceed. Maybe you are facing a change like graduation or a new job; don’t make a decision in the dark. Maybe you are moving, someone has died, or you have been asked to take on a new responsibility. If there is a decision to consider, illuminate the path with the Word of God. In this dark world, it is easy to become disoriented, lost, or injured. It is hard to feel our way down the dark path. Naturally, when we are considering going down an unfamiliar path in the dark, the first thing we seek is light.
THY WORD IS A LAMP
The Word of God illuminates. We can interpret the “Word” as the text given to us in the Bible or as the example given to us in Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1, ESV). On Monday, we learned five ways to look for God’s direction, including the Holy Scripture. “Jesus is the Word and has left His Word to be a teacher to us. If you are trying to discern God’s will and His way, the Bible will be your guide.” Like the lamps on the footpath to my front door, God’s Word was given to us to light our way.
Make It Personal: What decisions are you facing today? What big moves are you considering in this season? Have you consulted the Light for your path – God's Word?
Pray: God, You hold all things together and You know the path ahead. You are not prone to getting off course or going the wrong way. Thank You for providing the Word to direct me. Help me to read a little bit every day and I ask You to illuminate its meaning for the tasks You have planned today. I admit that sometimes I want a floodlight to show me the whole path, but instead You provide a small light for the footpath ahead. Help me to be content with that, and to follow Your direction wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: John 1:1-14
Weekly Memory Verse: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;” (Psalms 16:11a, NLT)