Today’s Reading

First Chronicles 3-5; John 8:1-20

Selected Verses

But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.  1 Chronicles 5:25-26

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Reflections

The half-tribe of Manasseh included a large population, mighty warriors, famous men, and heads of their fathers’ houses (1 Chronicles 5:23-24).  But they did not walk in the light of the truth of God.  They served other gods who had shown their inability to deliver the nations that served them in the past.  Despite the long list of accolades mentioned about this half-tribe they failed in the most important matter, to remain faithful to the God of Israel.  They were in “Who’s Who” as far as their contemporary society was concerned, but they got only scorn and judgment from the Lord.

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Light of the world.  Those who follow Him have the light of life.  Those who do not must walk in darkness, like the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Think about it

The fame and acclaim of this world can contribute nothing to one who is walking in darkness.  Have you determined to walk in the light?  Better to walk in the light and be in societal obscurity than the reverse.  The Apostle John wrote: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Seek to walk in the light of Christ today.  Your steps may not be easy, but they will be sure.  You will walk in freedom from guilt and in the great fellowship of all those who walk in the light.

© 2017 John A Carroll  Used by permission