Hosted by TruLight Ministries – The Place of Truth
Jesus used the concepts of salt and light a number of different times to refer to the role of His followers in the world. One example is found in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the desert environment. Believers in Christ are preservatives to the world, preserving it from the evil inherent in the society of ungodly men whose unredeemed natures are corrupted by sin (Psalm 14:3; Romans 8:8).
Second, salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer. In the same way that salt enhances the flavor of the food it seasons, the followers of Christ stand out as those who “enhance” the flavor of life in this world. Christians, living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ, will inevitably influence the world for good, as salt has a positive influence on the flavor of the food it seasons. Where there is strife, we are to be peacemakers; where there is sorrow, we are to be the ministers of Christ, binding up wounds, and where there is hatred, we are to exemplify the love of God in Christ, returning good for evil (Luke 6:35).
In the analogy of light to the world, the good works of Christ’s followers are to shine for all to see. The following verses in Matthew 5 highlight this truth: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NASB). The idea here is similar—the presence of light in darkness is something that is unmistakable. The presence of Christians in the world must be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings light to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also in the sense that our good deeds must be evident for all to see. And indeed, our deeds will be evident if they are performed in accordance with the other principles that Jesus mentions in this passage, such as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11. Notice especially that the concern is not that Christians would stand out for their own sake, but that those who looked on might “glorify your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16, KJV).
In view of these verses, what sorts of things can hinder or prevent the Christian from fulfilling his or her role as salt and light in the world? The passage clearly states that the difference between the Christian and the world must be preserved; therefore, any choice on our part that blurs the distinction between us and the rest of the world is a step in the wrong direction. This can happen either through a choice to accept the ways of the world for the sake of comfort or convenience or to contravene the law of obedience to Christ.
Mark 9:50 suggests that saltiness can be lost specifically through a lack of peace with one another; this follows from the command to “have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” And in Luke 14:34-35, we find a reference to the metaphor of salt once again, this time in the context of obedient discipleship to Jesus Christ. The loss of saltiness occurs in the failure of the Christian to daily take up the cross and follow Christ wholeheartedly.
It seems, then, that the role of the Christian as salt and light in the world may be hindered or prevented through any choice to compromise or settle for that which is more convenient or comfortable, rather than that which is truly best and pleasing to the Lord. Moreover, the status of salt and light is something that follows naturally from the Christian’s humble obedience to the commandments of Christ. It is when we depart from the Spirit-led lifestyle of genuine discipleship that the distinctions between ourselves and the rest of the world become blurred and our testimony is hindered. Only by remaining focused on Christ and being obedient to Him can we expect to remain salt and light in the world.
Jesus het die konsepte sout en lig ‘n aantal verskillende kere gebruik om te verwys na die rol van Sy volgelinge in die wêreld. Een voorbeeld word in Matteus 5:13 gevind: “Julle is die sout van die aarde. Maar as die sout sy sout verloor, hoe kan dit weer sout gemaak word? Dit is nêrens meer goed vir nie, behalwe om weggegooi en deur die mense vertrap te word.” Sout het twee doeleindes in die Midde-Ooste van die eerste eeu gehad. As gevolg van die gebrek aan verkoeling, is sout gebruik om voedsel te preserveer, veral vleis, wat vinnig in die woestynomgewing sou bederf. Gelowiges in Christus is preserveermiddels vir die wêreld en bewaar dit teen die euwel wat inherent is aan die samelewing van goddelose mense wie se onverloste natuur deur sonde besoedel is (Psalm 14:3; Romeine 8:8).
Tweedens, sout is toe, soos nou, as ‘n smaakversterker gebruik. Net soos sout die geur van die kos wat dit geur, versterk, staan die volgelinge van Christus uit as diegene wat die geur van die lewe in hierdie wêreld “versterk”. Christene, wat onder die leiding van die Heilige Gees en in gehoorsaamheid aan Christus leef, sal onvermydelik die wêreld ten goede beïnvloed, soos sout ‘n positiewe invloed het op die geur van die kos wat dit geur. Waar daar twis is, moet ons vredemakers wees; waar daar droefheid is, moet ons dienaars van Christus wees wat wonde verbind, en waar daar haat is, moet ons die liefde van God in Christus toon en goed vir kwaad vergeld (Lukas 6:35).
In die analogie van lig vir die wêreld, moet die goeie werke van Christus se volgelinge vir almal skyn om te sien. Die volgende verse in Matteus 5 beklemtoon hierdie waarheid: “Julle is die lig van die wêreld. ‘n Stad wat op ‘n berg lê, kan nie weggesteek word nie; en ‘n mens steek ook nie ‘n lamp op en sit dit onder ‘n maatemmer nie, maar op die lampstaander, en dit gee lig aan almal wat in die huis is. Laat julle lig so skyn voor die mense, dat hulle julle goeie werke kan sien en julle Vader wat in die hemele is, kan verheerlik” (Matteus 5:14-16). Die idee hier is soortgelyk—die teenwoordigheid van lig in die duisternis is iets wat onmiskenbaar is. Die teenwoordigheid van Christene in die wêreld moet soos ‘n lig in die duisternis wees, nie net in die sin dat die waarheid van God se Woord lig bring op die verduisterde harte van die sondige mens (Johannes 1:1-10), maar ook in die sin dat ons goeie dade duidelik moet wees vir almal om te sien. En inderdaad, ons dade sal duidelik wees as hulle uitgevoer word in ooreenstemming met die ander beginsels wat Jesus in hierdie gedeelte noem, soos die Saligsprekinge in Matteus 5:3-11. Let veral op dat die bekommernis nie is dat Christene vir hul eie onthalwe sal uitstaan nie, maar dat diegene wat toekyk, “julle Vader wat in die hemele is, kan verheerlik” (v. 16).
In die lig van hierdie verse, watter soort dinge kan die Christen verhinder of verhoed om sy of haar rol as sout en lig in die wêreld te vervul? Die gedeelte stel dit duidelik dat die verskil tussen die Christen en die wêreld bewaar moet word; daarom is enige keuse van ons kant wat die onderskeid tussen ons en die res van die wêreld vervaag, ‘n stap in die verkeerde rigting. Dit kan gebeur deur ‘n keuse om die weë van die wêreld te aanvaar ter wille van gemak of gerief, of om die wet van gehoorsaamheid aan Christus te oortree.
Markus 9:50 dui daarop dat southeid spesifiek verlore kan gaan deur ‘n gebrek aan vrede met mekaar; dit volg uit die opdrag om “sout in julleself te hê en in vrede met mekaar te wees.” En in Lukas 14:34-35 vind ons weer eens ‘n verwysing na die metafoor van sout, hierdie keer in die konteks van gehoorsame dissipelskap aan Jesus Christus. Die verlies aan southeid vind plaas in die versuim van die Christen om daagliks die kruis op te neem en Christus heelhartig te volg.
Dit lyk dus asof die rol van die Christen as sout en lig in die wêreld belemmer of voorkom kan word deur enige keuse om kompromieë aan te gaan of te skik vir dit wat geriefliker of gemakliker is, eerder as dit wat werklik die beste en aangenaam vir die Here is. Boonop is die status van sout en lig iets wat natuurlik volg uit die Christen se nederige gehoorsaamheid aan die gebooie van Christus. Dit is wanneer ons afwyk van die Gees-geleide leefstyl van ware dissipelskap dat die onderskeidings tussen onsself en die res van die wêreld vervaag en ons getuienis belemmer word. Slegs deur op Christus gefokus te bly en aan Hom gehoorsaam te wees, kan ons verwag om sout en lig in die wêreld te bly.
Bible Verse and Prayer for Today
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28-30
We could call it the irony of discipleship. To follow Jesus Christ means that we surrender everything and follow Him. To follow Christ means that we receive untold blessings in this life and eternal life with God in the life to come. So is it hard? Yes, sometimes it is very challenging, downright exhausting, and at certain times, filled with rejection and persecution. Jesus said it would be that way at times. And let’s be honest, life is hard. So, can our burden be light as Jesus promised? Yes, because we do not live our lives in vain, and we are living life as God intended us to live. Our efforts make a difference, and we get to meet incredible people whom we will know forever. Then, when our life is over on this earth, it isn’t really over! We get to go home and be with our Lord in the glory, and our Savior will welcome us home. Our souls will find rest, and every burden will be lifted just as every tear will be dried!
Prayer
Please give me courage, O God, to face the challenges that I must confront. Give me charity to deal appropriately with those I meet. Give me thankfulness for all that you have done to bless me. Give me the foresight to see that living for Jesus is the best of all choices. As I walk this road of discipleship, dear Lord, please give me the rest I need to continue boldly, faithfully, and passionately. I trust that you will bring me home to you in glory, and I will find my rest in your presence, where your grace and glory will erase every pain, burden, and hardship. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I praise and thank you. Amen and Amen
Bybel Vers en Gebed vir Vandag
Kom na My toe, almal wat vermoeid en belas is, en Ek sal julle rus gee. Neem my juk op julle en leer van My, want Ek is sagmoedig en nederig van hart, en julle sal rus vind vir julle siele. Want my juk is sag en my las is lig.
—Matteus 11:28-30
Ons kan dit die ironie van dissipelskap noem. Om Jesus Christus te volg beteken dat ons alles prysgee en Hom volg. Om Christus te volg beteken dat ons onuitspreeklike seëninge in hierdie lewe en die ewige lewe saam met God in die lewe hierna ontvang. Is dit dus moeilik? Ja, soms is dit baie uitdagend, ronduit uitputtend, en op sekere tye gevul met verwerping en vervolging. Jesus het gesê dit sal soms so wees. En laat ons eerlik wees, die lewe is moeilik. Kan ons las dus lig wees soos Jesus belowe het? Ja, want ons leef nie ons lewens tevergeefs nie, en ons leef die lewe soos God bedoel het ons moet leef. Ons pogings maak 'n verskil, en ons ontmoet ongelooflike mense wat ons vir ewig sal ken. Dan, wanneer ons lewe op hierdie aarde verby is, is dit nie regtig verby nie! Ons kan huis toe gaan en by ons Here in die heerlikheid wees, en ons Verlosser sal ons tuis verwelkom. Ons siele sal rus vind, en elke las sal gelig word net soos elke traan gedroog sal word!
Gebed
Gee my asseblief moed, o God, om die uitdagings wat ek moet trotseer, die hoof te bied. Gee my liefdadigheid om gepas te handel met diegene wat ek ontmoet. Gee my dankbaarheid vir alles wat U gedoen het om my te seën. Gee my die vooruitsig om te sien dat om vir Jesus te lewe die beste van alle keuses is. Terwyl ek hierdie pad van dissipelskap stap, liewe Here, gee my asseblief die rus wat ek nodig het om dapper, getrou en passievol voort te gaan. Ek vertrou dat U my in heerlikheid na U huis toe sal bring, en ek sal my rus in u teenwoordigheid vind, waar u genade en heerlikheid elke pyn, las en ontbering sal uitwis. In die Naam van die Here Jesus, prys en dank ek U. Amen en Amen.
Bible Teaching of the Day
To “walk in the light” is a common metaphor within Christian culture. It is often taken to mean “acting correctly” or even “living openly.” Biblically, however, the phrase has the idea of relinquishing sin by following Jesus.
The only Old Testament occurrence of this precise phrase is in Isaiah 2:5, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The Psalms contain similar phrases (56:13; 89:15), as does Isaiah (9:2; 50:10-11; 59:9).
In the New Testament, “walking in the light” is directly related to following Jesus, who said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). While this verse does not directly say, “Walk in the light, i.e., Jesus,” it does pointedly warn of doing the opposite; therefore, those who follow Jesus are “walking in the light.”
To “walk” is, in short, to live one’s life. One’s lifestyle or way of life can be considered a “walk.” The word also indicates progress. Walking is related to growth; it is taking steps toward maturity. “Light” in the Bible can be a metaphor for life, happiness, righteousness, or understanding. The Bible is clear that light comes from the Lord God, the “Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). He is the opposite of evil. Putting it all together, “walking in the light” means “growing in holiness and maturing in the faith as we follow Jesus.”
The apostle John repeatedly used the “light” metaphor in relation to the Messiah. For example, he writes that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9). In 1 John 1:7 he says, “If we walk in the light as He [God] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” In verse 5, John says that God’s very nature is light. Jesus, then, is the conduit or provider of light to the world.
Our Christian duty is to live in the light God gives: “Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). When we walk in the light, we cannot walk in darkness. Sin is left in the shadows as we let our light “shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). It is God’s plan for us to become more like Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
“Walking in the light” means we consider Jesus as “the light” in this world, and we “walk” in that light by following His precepts, living in His power, and growing in His grace.
Bybel Lering vir die Dag
Om “in die lig te wandel” is ‘n algemene metafoor binne die Christelike kultuur. Dit word dikwels verstaan as “korrek optree” of selfs “openlik leef”. Bybels gesproke het die frase egter die idee om sonde prys te gee deur Jesus te volg.
Die enigste Ou Testamentiese voorkoms van hierdie presiese frase is in Jesaja 2:5, “O huis van Jakob, kom en laat ons wandel in die lig van die Here.” Die Psalms bevat soortgelyke frases (56:13; 89:15), net soos Jesaja (9:2; 50:10-11; 59:9).
In die Nuwe Testament hou “in die lig wandel” direk verband met die volg van Jesus, wat gesê het: “Ek is die lig van die wêreld. Wie My volg, sal nie in die duisternis wandel nie, maar die lig van die lewe hê” (Johannes 8:12). Terwyl hierdie vers nie direk sê: “Wandel in die lig, d.w.s. Jesus nie,” waarsku dit wel om die teenoorgestelde te doen; daarom “wandel diegene wat Jesus volg in die lig”.
Om te “wandel” is, kortom, om jou lewe te leef. ’n Mens se leefstyl of lewenswyse kan as ’n “wandel” beskou word. Die woord dui ook op vordering. Wandel hou verband met groei; dit is om stappe na volwassenheid te neem. “Lig” in die Bybel kan ’n metafoor wees vir lewe, geluk, geregtigheid of begrip. Die Bybel is duidelik dat lig van die Here God kom, die “Vader van die hemelse ligte” (Jakobus 1:17). Hy is die teenoorgestelde van boosheid. Alles saamgevat beteken “wandel in die lig” “groei in heiligheid en volwasse word in die geloof terwyl ons Jesus volg.”
Die apostel Johannes het die “lig”-metafoor herhaaldelik in verband met die Messias gebruik. Hy skryf byvoorbeeld dat Jesus “die ware lig is wat elke mens verlig” (Johannes 1:9). In 1 Johannes 1:7 sê hy: “As ons in die lig wandel soos Hy [God] in die lig is, het ons gemeenskap met mekaar, en die bloed van Jesus Christus, sy Seun, reinig ons van alle sonde.” In vers 5 sê Johannes dat God se aard lig is. Jesus is dus die kanaal of voorsiener van lig aan die wêreld.
Ons Christelike plig is om in die lig te leef wat God gee: “Julle is nou lig in die Here. Wandel soos kinders van die lig” (Efesiërs 5:8). Wanneer ons in die lig wandel, kan ons nie in die duisternis wandel nie. Sonde word in die skaduwees gelaat terwyl ons ons lig “voor die mense laat skyn” (Matteus 5:16). Dit is God se plan vir ons om meer soos Christus te word (1 Tessalonisense 4:3).
“Wandel in die lig” beteken dat ons Jesus as “die lig” in hierdie wêreld beskou, en ons “wandel” in daardie lig deur Sy voorskrifte te volg, in Sy krag te leef en in Sy genade te groei.
Today’s Devotional
The opening verses of John’s Gospel introduce us to Jesus Christ as the incarnation of God. John wants his readers to know that Jesus is fully God in human form. John then reveals the purpose of God coming to earth as a human: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5). Jesus Christ came to bring the light of God’s life into a spiritually dark and dying world.
In Genesis, the creation of light was God’s first creative move (Genesis 1:3). In the process of generating life, light was God’s initial instrument for illuminating the dark and formless void. It was the inaugural instance of God shining light in the darkness.
When John spoke of the Incarnation, he was echoing the creation account. Scripture tells us over and again that God is the source of life and light: “For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9, NLT; see also Acts 17:28; Psalm 27:1). “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Jesus Christ is God’s light sent down to earth to pierce through the darkness. That light is God’s life, both physical and eternal. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25; see also John 14:6). The life within Christ is the life of God: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (John 5:26).
The Bible tells us that the life of Christ serves as a light to all people. That life is the light of truth—the message of Christ’s salvation and eternal life with God: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). The brilliance of Christ’s life and truth shine like a light into the darkness of this world.
In the New Testament, light and darkness are common symbols of good and evil. It’s clear that light in John 1:5 represents life, and ultimately, eternal life with God in His heavenly kingdom. Darkness is the absence of light—the lack of God. It represents the power of evil, sin, and unbelief in this world, all of which lead to eternal death (John 3:19; Job 10:22; 38:15; 1 Samuel 2:9).
John continues to focus on the theme of light and darkness throughout his gospel. In John 8:12, Jesus proclaims to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (NLT). John 1:5 says the darkness “has not overcome” the light because evil cannot overpower Jesus Christ, who states, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
Jesus declared that those who believe in the light become sons and daughters of the light: “Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light” (John 12:36, NLT). According to the apostle Paul, Christians have passed from darkness into light: “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8, NLT).
By loving one another, believers shine light into the darkness: “Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:8–11).
The nature of light is to shine, and darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Just as a bright street lamp discourages criminal mischief at night, so the light of Christ dispels the darkness of sin in the world. Just as the first rays of dawn pierce the blackness of night, God’s light and truth carry spiritual awakening to darkened hearts.
The light shines in the darkness means Jesus Christ has come into the world, bringing the good news of God’s salvation to every person. As Isaiah foretold, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). The life of Jesus, which is the life of the Creator God Himself, is the light of the world. No power of darkness can defeat or snuff out this light (Matthew 16:18; John 16:33).
Jesus is the giver of life and bearer of light. The Son of God continues to shine His light to humankind through His church, the body of Christ (Philippians 2:15). Whoever believes in Him receives eternal life (John 3:15; see also Psalm 112:4).
Vandag se Bemoediging
Die openingsverse van Johannes se Evangelie stel ons voor aan Jesus Christus as die inkarnasie van God. Johannes wil hê sy lesers moet weet dat Jesus volledig God in menslike vorm is. Johannes openbaar dan die doel van God se koms na die aarde as mens: “In Hom was die lewe, en die lewe was die lig van al die mense. Die lig skyn in die duisternis, en die duisternis het dit nie oorweldig nie” (Johannes 1:4–5). Jesus Christus het gekom om die lig van God se lewe in ‘n geestelik donker en sterwende wêreld te bring.
In Genesis was die skepping van lig God se eerste kreatiewe stap (Genesis 1:3). In die proses van lewegenerering was lig God se aanvanklike instrument om die donker en vormlose leemte te verlig. Dit was die eerste voorbeeld van God wat lig in die duisternis skyn.
Toe Johannes van die Inkarnasie gepraat het, het hy die skeppingsverhaal herhaal. Die Skrif vertel ons oor en oor dat God die bron van lewe en lig is: “Want U is die fontein van die lewe, die lig waardeur ons sien” (Psalm 36:9, NLT; sien ook Handelinge 17:28; Psalm 27:1). “God is lig, en daar is geen duisternis in Hom nie” (1 Johannes 1:5). Jesus Christus is God se lig wat na die aarde gestuur is om deur die duisternis te dring. Daardie lig is God se lewe, beide fisies en ewig. Jesus het gesê: “Ek is die opstanding en die lewe. Wie in My glo, sal lewe, al sterwe hy ook” (Johannes 11:25; sien ook Johannes 14:6). Die lewe binne Christus is die lewe van God: “Want soos die Vader die lewe in Homself het, so het Hy ook aan die Seun gegee om die lewe in Homself te hê” (Johannes 5:26).
Die Bybel vertel ons dat die lewe van Christus as ‘n lig vir alle mense dien. Daardie lewe is die lig van die waarheid—die boodskap van Christus se verlossing en ewige lewe met God: “God het ons die ewige lewe gegee, en hierdie lewe is in sy Seun” (1 Johannes 5:11). Die glans van Christus se lewe en waarheid skyn soos ‘n lig in die duisternis van hierdie wêreld.
In die Nuwe Testament is lig en duisternis algemene simbole van goed en kwaad. Dit is duidelik dat lig in Johannes 1:5 die lewe verteenwoordig, en uiteindelik die ewige lewe met God in Sy hemelse koninkryk. Duisternis is die afwesigheid van lig—die gebrek aan God. Dit verteenwoordig die mag van die bose, sonde en ongeloof in hierdie wêreld, wat alles lei tot die ewige dood (Johannes 3:19; Job 10:22; 38:15; 1 Samuel 2:9).
Johannes fokus steeds op die tema van lig en duisternis dwarsdeur sy evangelie. In Johannes 8:12 verkondig Jesus aan die mense: “Ek is die lig van die wêreld. As julle My volg, sal julle nie in die duisternis wandel nie, want julle sal die lig hê wat tot die lewe lei” (NLT). Johannes 1:5 sê die duisternis het die lig “nie oorwin” nie, want die bose kan Jesus Christus nie oorweldig nie, wat sê: “Ek het as die lig in die wêreld gekom, sodat elkeen wat in My glo, nie in die duisternis mag bly nie” (Johannes 12:46).
Jesus het verklaar dat diegene wat in die lig glo, seuns en dogters van die lig word: “Stel julle vertroue in die lig terwyl daar nog tyd is; dan sal julle kinders van die lig word” (Johannes 12:36, NLT). Volgens die apostel Paulus het Christene uit die duisternis na die lig oorgegaan: “Want vroeër was julle vol duisternis, maar nou het julle die lig van die Here. Leef dan soos mense van die lig!” (Efesiërs 5:8, NLT).
Deur mekaar lief te hê, skyn gelowiges lig in die duisternis: “Ek skryf julle egter ‘n nuwe gebod; die waarheid daarvan kan in Hom en in julle gesien word, want die duisternis gaan verby en die ware lig skyn reeds. Elkeen wat beweer dat hy in die lig is, maar sy broer haat, is nog steeds in die duisternis. Elkeen wat sy broer liefhet, leef in die lig en daar is niks in hom wat hom laat struikel nie. Maar elkeen wat sy broer haat, is in die duisternis en wandel in die duisternis. Hy weet nie waar hy gaan nie, omdat die duisternis hom verblind het” (1 Johannes 2:8–11).
Die aard van lig is om te skyn, en duisternis kan nie in die teenwoordigheid van lig bestaan nie. Net soos ‘n helder straatlamp kriminele onheil in die nag ontmoedig, so verdryf die lig van Christus die duisternis van sonde in die wêreld. Net soos die eerste strale van die dagbreek die swartheid van die nag deurdring, dra God se lig en waarheid geestelike ontwaking na verduisterde harte.
Die lig wat in die duisternis skyn, beteken dat Jesus Christus in die wêreld gekom het en die goeie nuus van God se verlossing aan elke persoon gebring het. Soos Jesaja voorspel het: “Die volk wat in duisternis wandel, het ‘n groot lig gesien; oor die wat in die land van diep duisternis woon, het ‘n lig opgegaan” (Jesaja 9:2). Die lewe van Jesus, wat die lewe van die Skeppergod self is, is die lig van die wêreld. Geen mag van die duisternis kan hierdie lig verslaan of uitdoof nie (Matteus 16:18; Johannes 16:33).
Jesus is die gewer van lewe en draer van lig. Die Seun van God hou aan om Sy lig aan die mensdom te laat skyn deur Sy kerk, die liggaam van Christus (Filippense 2:15). Wie in Hom glo, ontvang die ewige lewe (Johannes 3:15; sien ook Psalm 112:4).
The Collectors of Manna – Women of the Word // Gaarders van Manna – Vroue van die woord
Dilize Light has Managed a TruLight Ladies Group on Telegram for the Past 6 Years and from Today . she will be Sharing her Manna with the Ladies in The TruLight Daily Manna Platform . Dilize is the only Daughter of Pastor Dirk and has been part of the Ministry since the age of 11 . Dilize is also the Radio Host for the Popular TruLight Top 10 that airs on TruLight Radio XM saturdays at 17h00′
Dilize Light bestuur die afgelope 6 jaar ‘n TruLight Damesgroep op Telegram en van vandag af sal sy haar Manna met die Dames deel op die TruLight Daaglikse Manna-platform. Dilize is die enigste dogter van Pastoor Dirk en is deel van die bediening sedert die ouderdom van 11. Dilize is ook die radio-aanbieder vir die gewilde TruLight Top 10 wat Saterdae om 17:00 op TruLight Radio XM uitgesaai word.
Vertroue In God:
Die Psalmis het in angs uitgeroep. My trane was dag en nag my voedsel, terwyl hulle gedurig vir my sê: Waar is jou God ? (PS 42:3). Die worsteling van sy hart was ook na binne gekeer. Terwyl die res van die wêreld voortgegaan het soos gewoonlik, het hy die behoefte aan diep en volkome genesing in sy hart gedra. Slegs as ons ons gebrokenheid aan die goeie en groot Herder van ons harte onderwerp, kan ons vrede vind wat ons toelaat om op die lewe te reageer. Waarom is jy neergeslaan, O my siel ? En waarom is jy onrustig in my ? Vertroue in God, want ek sal Hom nog prys vir die hulp van sy aangesig (v 5). Vertroue in God – dit is die enigste oplossing vir die diep traumas van die hart.
Die Christen en Kind van God se vertroue is in die Here. Ons rus veilig in Sy Woord. En daardeur word ons versoek om nie te twyfel dat God daar is nie.
Niemand het onvertroue wie se vertroue in God is nie.
Trust in God:
The Psalmist cried out in anguish. My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” (PS 42:3). The struggle of his heart was also turned inward. While the rest of the world went on as usual, he carried the need for deep and complete healing in his heart. Only when we submit our brokenness to the good and great Shepherd of our hearts can we find peace that allows us to respond to life. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him for the help of His face (v 5). Trust in God – this is the only solution to the deep traumas of the heart.
The Christian and Child of God’s trust is in the Lord. We rest safely in His Word. And through this we are tempted not to doubt that God is there.
No one has distrust whose trust is in God.
TruLight Ministries Daily Entertainment
TruLight TV – Gospel Music for the Weary Soul
Life is a constant journey, filled with challenges and exhaustion. It’s no surprise that we often feel drained physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In moments like these, it’s important to find solace in a simple yet rejuvenating prayer to God, just like the psalmist did. On Gospel Music USA, you’ll find The Troy Burns Family, a talented group with Troy, who has been singing his whole life. With an impressive repertoire of over 700 original and charting songs, including popular ones like Jesus Is Coming Soon, Touring That City, Is That Footsteps, The Wonders of Wonders, Your Tears Are Touching God, The First Million Years, and many more. Tune in, enjoy the show, and thank you for watching!
Today on TruLight Radio XM
TruLight Radio XM 24/7
Program
GMT / UTC +2
Monday To Fridays
00:15 Words to Live By Testimonies
01.15 Science Scripture and Salvation
02.15 Ground Works
04.00 Gospel Concert of the Day
05.00 The Daren Streblow Comedy Show
5:55 It is Today devotional
6:00 Gaither Homecoming Morning Show
7:15 Discover the Word
8.15 Destined for Victory
8:55 Science Scripture and Salvation
9:00 Holy Spirit Hour – Normally Sermons
10:15 Hope of the Heart
11:15 Unshackled
11.45 Words to Live By
12:15 Truth for Life
13:15 Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram
14:15 Focus on the Family
15:00 Kids Hour
16:00 In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley
16:30 Groundwork
17:15 Live in the Light
18:15 Renewing your Mind
19:00 Gaither Homecoming Show
20:15 Growing Hope
21:15 Adventures in Odyssey Radio Drama
21:45 Bible Reading
22:15 Nightsounds
23.00 Good Old Country Gospel / Rhema Gospel Express
VISIT THE WEBSITE
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BIBLE PROPHECY IN THE NEWS
Western Leaders Unite In Campaign To Silence Conservative Voices Online
In 1965, the guru of the New Left, Herbert Marcuse, penned an essay that neatly brought together both strands of the unitary threat faced today by conservatives defending Western civilization: the threat of online censorship and the threat of street violence. Six decades later, it has come back with renewed force.
Titled “Repressive Tolerance,” the essay’s dictates on the need to repress conservative views are followed almost word for word by 21st-century technocrats. Even what it says on the use of violence is heeded by the most leftist of Western governments.
These technocratic politicians, found across the West, run the gamut from the center right to the extreme left. They lead nation-states and multinational institutions, and consider a freewheeling internet a threat to an “expert-managed” international order.
At the United Nations, we have Secretary-General António Guterres, a Portuguese socialist, and his minions. At the European Union level–that means the EU Commission–there is Ursula von der Leyen, a center-right German civil servant. Neither Guterres nor Von der Leyen has been elected to their positions.
In Britain, it is Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party. In Canada, it is Prime Minister Mark Carney of the Liberal Party. In Spain, there is the Marxist party Podemos, now cheering antifa’s violence.
In the United States, they have former President Barack Obama, who is reinvolved in politics and policy, leaving no doubt that if his ilk ever gets power, censorship will follow.
What they all share is horror that a new and insurgent Right wants to demolish the arrangement the experts have created. They are openly calling for shutting down its ability to use the internet or street action to bypass the Left’s lock on legacy media and communicate its ideas to voters.
All of this was blessed by Marcuse 60 years ago. His essay laid out how the Right was beyond the pale of civil society, and governments must use censorship to suppress its right to communicate.
“In endlessly dragging debates over the media, the stupid opinion is treated with the same respect as the intelligent one, the misinformed may talk as long as the informed, and propaganda rides along with education, truth with falsehood,” he tut-tuts.
In his typically dense prose, Marcuse explains at length that “this pure toleration of sense and nonsense” was superficially justified by the principle that “neither group nor individual, is in possession of the truth and capable of defining what is right and wrong, good and bad. Therefore, all contesting opinions must be submitted to ‘the people’ for its deliberation and choice.”
That didn’t work, however, he said, because “monopolistic media” had premolded what the people in democracy thought, so they were no longer capable of “autonomous thought.” Presenting all views equally was, therefore, wrong.
“Liberating tolerance, then, would mean intolerance against movements from the Right and toleration of movements from the Left,” Marcuse wrote. “Different opinions and ‘philosophies’ can no longer compete peacefully for adherence and persuasion on rational grounds.”
“Repressive Tolerance,” he wrote, meant “strengthening the oppressed against the oppressor. Tolerance would be restricted with respect to movements of a demonstrably aggressive or destructive character (destructive of the prospects for peace, justice, and freedom for all). Such discrimination would also be applied to movements opposing the extension of social legislation to the poor, weak, disabled.”
The survival of the downtrodden was worth more than constitutional guarantees. “Powerless minorities which struggle against the false consciousness and its beneficiaries must be helped: their continued existence is more important than the preservation of abused rights and liberties which grant constitutional powers to those who oppress these minorities.”
This idea that a “stupid opinion” cannot be treated equally with an “intelligent one,” as defined by the Left, is heard today, again and again, in support of censoring online content.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Next Religious Majority? Islam’s Unstoppable Growth & The Church’s Wake-Up Call
Something is changing in the heart of America–quietly, steadily, and with consequences that will touch every church and every family. Across our cities and suburbs, the landscape of faith is being rewritten. While Christianity once shaped nearly every corner of American life, another faith is now rising–Islam–and it’s growing faster than most realize.
In the last half-century, the number of Muslims in the United States has multiplied many times over. Mosques that once stood only in major urban centers now appear in quiet suburbs and small towns. Muslim families are young, vibrant, and multiplying–while Christian families, and Americans in general, are shrinking in number. A simple truth hides behind all the statistics: in just two or three generations, America will not look the same spiritually.
The Demographic Tides
Look around. America’s Christian majority is shrinking. In 1970, about nine out of ten Americans identified as Christian. Today, that number has dropped to around six in ten–and falling fast. Meanwhile, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the nation. Muslim families, on average, have more than two children, while most American families now have fewer. Immigration from Muslim-majority nations continues year after year, and with it comes a wave of young people who will raise the next generation here.
It’s not hard to do the math. A growing, youthful population with strong family structures and religious commitment will inevitably shape the future of a nation. In contrast, Christianity in America–especially among younger generations–is aging, declining, and increasingly silent in public life.
What happens when the balance shifts? What will our nation look like when Islamic culture begins to influence public life, education, and law on a scale we’ve never seen before?
What Many Muslims Believe
To understand the implications, we must ask: what do Muslims, as a community, believe about society and law?
For most Muslims, faith is not just private–it’s total. Islam is not merely a religion but a complete way of life. Its law, known as Sharia, governs not only worship but also marriage, inheritance, diet, modesty, and justice. In Islamic thought, there is no separation between mosque and state; religion and law are one.
In some Muslim societies, Sharia is enforced with punishments for those who leave Islam, speak against it, or break its moral codes. While American Muslims are diverse and many reject extremism, the core vision of Islam does not change–it seeks to shape all of life under its rule.
This raises difficult but essential questions: As Islam grows, will it push for greater legal and cultural influence in America? Will blasphemy laws or speech restrictions–common in Islamic nations–eventually find subtle expression here under the banner of “tolerance”? Will the right to freely preach Christ, or even to question Islam, remain as unchallenged as it once was?
Lessons from Europe
We need only look across the Atlantic for a preview. In parts of Europe, rapid Muslim immigration over the past few decades has transformed once-Christian societies. Entire neighborhoods are now governed more by Islamic custom than by Western law. Police in some cities avoid enforcing certain laws in predominantly Muslim areas, fearing unrest. Speech about Islam is increasingly restricted, and Christian evangelism is often viewed as “provocation.”
Europe once assumed its values were strong enough to absorb any belief system. It was wrong. When one faith loses conviction and another holds it fiercely, the stronger will eventually shape the culture.
America stands at a similar crossroads.
GOG AND MAGOG UPDATE
Magog’s / China’s New Supercarrier
When Xi Jinping stepped onto the deck of the Fujian, China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, it wasn’t just another naval ceremony — it was a declaration. The leader of the Chinese Communist Party looked out across the gleaming flight deck, surrounded by 2,000 sailors, and pressed a button to activate the ship’s new electromagnetic catapult system. The symbolism was unmistakable: China has arrived as a true blue-water power, and it intends to challenge American dominance on the high seas.
The Fujian, now officially in active service, represents a turning point not just for China, but for the entire balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. Sleek, massive, and bristling with technology once reserved for the United States, this new carrier sends a message that echoes far beyond the South China Sea: the era of unquestioned U.S. naval supremacy is ending.
A Leviathan Rises
Named after the coastal province that faces Taiwan — a not-so-subtle reminder of Beijing’s ambitions — the Fujian displaces over 80,000 tons, can launch stealth fighters like the J-35, and carries early-warning radar planes that extend its vision hundreds of miles over the ocean. For the first time, China has built a carrier on par, at least technologically, with America’s own behemoths.
This isn’t an isolated step. It’s the culmination of Xi Jinping’s 13-year drive to modernize the People’s Liberation Army into a global fighting force — one that can not only defend China’s coast but project power deep into the Pacific, where American fleets once sailed unchallenged.
China now boasts over 370 warships and submarines — the largest navy on Earth by sheer numbers. The U.S. Navy, long the envy of the world, has fewer ships in active service. Quantity isn’t everything, but the symbolism is powerful. The dragon has more scales than the eagle has feathers.
And Beijing isn’t stopping there. Satellite imagery shows that a fourth, even larger carrier — possibly nuclear-powered — is already being assembled in the shipyards of Shanghai. The pace of production is staggering. Chinese shipyards can reportedly build warships dozens of times faster than their American counterparts, thanks to centralized command, state funding, and a single-minded focus on power.
The United States once built liberty ships faster than the enemy could sink them. Today, China builds destroyers faster than America can plan them. That alone should make Washington shudder.
The Taiwan Question: A Powder Keg at Sea
For the average American, the battle for Taiwan might sound distant — a struggle over a small island halfway across the world. But in the language of global power, Taiwan is the fuse to a far larger explosion.
If China ever makes its move, it won’t just send troops ashore. It will unleash its carriers, submarines, and missile fleets to block U.S. and allied intervention. That’s where the Fujian comes in. With its electromagnetic catapults and long-range fighters, it can project power hundreds of miles beyond the Chinese coastline — enough to contest the very waters the U.S. Seventh Fleet patrols.
For decades, American carriers sailed through the Pacific as floating symbols of deterrence. Now, for the first time since World War II, the U.S. faces a peer rival capable of fighting — and possibly winning — a carrier battle in its own region.
China’s strategy is simple but deadly: make the cost of intervention unbearable. Force the U.S. to think twice before defending Taiwan. And if America hesitates, the balance of power in Asia collapses overnight.
Can America Still Prevail?
Yes — but the question is, for how long?
The United States still holds the edge in experience, nuclear propulsion, global logistics, and allied partnerships. American carrier strike groups have operated continuously for 80 years; China’s have only begun. The Fujian may look formidable, but running a carrier takes more than machinery — it takes a culture of precision, discipline, and decades of operational knowledge.
But even the strongest foundation can crack under complacency. The U.S. fleet is aging. Shipbuilding has slowed. Congress bickers while Beijing builds. American admirals warn that by 2030, China could not only match U.S. power in Asia but surpass it in readiness and firepower.
This is not science fiction — it’s the quiet reality unfolding in Pacific shipyards right now.
TruLight Ministry News
TruLight Ministries orders from God since 2012 . Teach Them , Comfort Them and Warn Them!
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TruLight Ministries opdrag vanaf God sedert 2012. Leer hulle, Troos hulle en Waarsku hulle!
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