Day 11
Read: Acts 12-13
Introduction: I am convinced that one of the greatest inventions of all time is the light bulb. There have been times in my life that I was in a bad situation and didn’t realize it until the illumination of some light revealed it. For example, I was playing a game of hide and seek with some kids and I decided to hide under a cabin. When I started crawling under the cabin, it was dark and a little damp, but I knew it would be my best chance of going unfound. The longer I was there, the more comfortable I got. After I hid under the cabin for a long time without being detected, I decided to turn on my flashlight to see what it looked like under the cabin. As soon as I clicked on the flashlight, I felt very uncomfortable. I looked around and saw there were 5 spiders about 6 inches from my face. They had been there the whole time, but I’d been comfortable and cozy—that is, until the light was turned on. Even though it was unsettling to see the spiders in the glow of the light, it was actually a good thing because I realized the situation I was in and removed myself. One of the things that God called the church to be is a light. We are called to bring light into dark places
Acts 13:44-48
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us saying,
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Think about it: Just as the invention of the lightbulb has changed the world forever, Christians living in the world as light has changed, and will continue to change, the world all the more. The Good News of Jesus has been entrusted to his people. The truth about Jesus is a light for all who hear it. Sometimes, when a person first hears that they are a sinner and are separated from God, it is unsettling. But the gospel is called the “Good News” for a reason. God has never left us without hope, and Jesus is our eternal hope. Look at what verse 47 says again, we “bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” You get to bring salvation to your work, schools, houses, and stores.
Take away: Jesus is the light of the world and he lives in you.