Light In Truth

January 5, 2025

Dr. Paul Cannings

If you are reading this pastor’s corner, it is because you have made it to 2025. This means that the Lord has preserved you in good and difficult times. He has protected you, healed you, whether known or unknown, and provided for you (you may have a job and skills to work it, but you had to breathe to get there, drive there, and have a mind and health to get it done); in other words every day no matter what is taking place in this world the Lord God is still good, perfect, loving, kind, gracious, holy, eternal and forever powerful. Therefore, how should you and I now respond in 2025? His faithfulness should cause us to focus on ‘running the race He has set before you,’ meaning commit to stop waiting on God before acting and start acting based on His Word, knowing He will be God daily. “Faith is what we hope for and the evidence….” (Hebrews 11). We have the evidence…..

We have faithfully taught you sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Challenge each person to discipleship and to love each other (John 13:34-35). Now, does all that has been taught translate from sound doctrine, to walk it out so that the Word becomes ‘a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path?’ (Psalm 119:93, 105; Proverbs 6:23; Psalm 119:33-40). As John would say, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory (God in His full excellence), …….., full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) This Word that was preached through the Old Testament (Hebrews 1:1-3) in the New Testament became a light to the world (John 1:6-9), an example you and I must now walk in (lifestyle; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:21-25) so that we become the light (Matthew 5:13-16) in our homes, communities, and world. This process nurtures the development of the Holy Spirit in you, creating genuine fellowship (1 John 1:5-7; Matthew 22:36-40), as the Holy Spirit continuously transforms you each day (Philippians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:13-16).

While on vacation, I attended my grandkids’ soccer games. The coaches always expected the players to follow their instructions during practice, but the issue was how they applied all this in a game.

This year, you and I need to live out how the Word of God relates to the issues we experience daily; this way, we do not become short-sighted or blind when faced with struggles (2 Peter 1:3-10). This way, amid daily challenges (Philippians 4:13), we become conquerors while transforming to be like Christ, impacting others for His glory (Ephesians 3:14-21).