Bluesy

I was having a bluesy day yesterday. Maybe it was hormones. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was just fatigue at the end of the week. More likely it was related to the fact that I had not had my devotions for a few days. Whatever the cause, or combination of causes, my incurable optimism was flickering. But then I began practicing my memory verses. I use an online program called Scripture Typer. My first passage was John 1:1-18. But I hadn't even made it halfway through before my hope was refreshed.

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In verse 4, I was reminded that Christ is life and light. My perspective is so limited, and my soul is so turned in on itself that I need CONSTANT help to see things correctly. I need life. I need light. I need Christ through His word. I need to be in the Scriptures. But the real blast came in verse 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  This book was probably written around 90 A.D. Most of the apostles had been martyred, along with many second generation Christians. Persecution was the norm. And yet John tells his readers that the darkness HAS NOT OVERCOME the light. We have hope! Christ conquered death and sin for us! He will come back to make all things right! What reason then do I have to be bluesy?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 1:1-18