June 5, 2024 Devo

Nicodemus came to see Jesus in the dark. Most likely it was because he wanted to not be seen by other Pharisees or religious leaders. He wanted to avoid the criticism he might receive. He knew Jesus was “special,” but he wasn’t quite sure just how special. He knew that Jesus was from God, but he wasn’t ready to admit that Jesus WAS God. That’s coming into the light.
That led me to think about how many of us are also seeking Jesus “in the dark.” For some of us, it’s a matter of faith. We believe there WAS a Jesus. Like Nicodemus, we know He was special. But we’re still not quite sure how special. We’re still a bit in the dark on that.
Others of us believe Jesus is who He claimed to be. We believe He’s the Son of God who has come to take away the sins of the world. We pray to Him. We may even read our Bibles from time to time. But our commitment to Him is hidden. We love the security of believing He died for us, but we’re not willing to be outward about our faith and let others know that we live for Him. So we keep our relationship safely in the dark. That way we won’t be teased, questioned, or criticized by people we want to be accepted by. We can act a little unchristian sometimes because people don’t know that we claim to be one.
The sad thing about seeking Jesus in the dark is that you don’t experience the joy, the fulfillment, or the victorious life that Jesus came to bring us. Only by following Jesus fully in the light, as Savior and Lord, will you experience His Power. Only by seeking Him wholeheartedly will you live with the peace of His Presence and Grace. Only by openly declaring your allegiance to Him will you have the opportunity to show others and demonstrate to others all that He has come to do in them. As we follow the story of Nicodemus, we discover that Jesus calls him to a deeper and more meaningful faith. A faith you can only have in the light. Maybe it’s time for some of us to come out of the dark as well. That’s God’s Word for you today.