Hunkered Down Devotion

John 1:1-5 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

As I sat down to write this devotion for the fifteenth of February, I realized that we are now over halfway through the month and almost a full year into the covid pandemic.  I don’t think I am alone in, at times at least, feeling like this pandemic has brought a sort of heavy darkness that seems to be both impenetrable and never-ending.  

But these words, the very first words we hear from the gospel of John, are a promise that no matter how deep the darkness gets, no matter how long the night is or seems, the light and love of Jesus Christ will always persevere.  The light of Christ’s love for us pierces even the darkest and longest nights, whether those nights are individual, felt by a community, or by our entire world.  

The passage also reminds us that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has been around since the very beginning – before any of us, and before any of the things that we worry about and that cause us problems.   Jesus has been with us all along and he will be us until the end of time.  

We have faced much darkness and difficulty in this last year, but we don’t ever face these things alone, the Holy Spirit of God, sent to us by God the Father is always with us.  And just as importantly, there is no darkness the light and love of Jesus Christ cannot penetrate.  Jesus’ light can and will overcome this present darkness and all the darkness we will ever face.  

Sharing God’s Love,
Chip  

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord for the light of your love, that is always present with us.  Amen.