“光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。” – 约 1:5
福音（“好消息”）就是：耶稣把神的子民从黑暗的权势中拯救出来，和带领他们进入光明的国度。再没有更好的消息了！
福音的背景：罪令神的子民堕入黑暗里；他们没有圣殿、没有君王、也没有国土。他们的问题是他们不断犯罪离弃神，像邻近国家的人那样放纵犯罪。神于是差派其他蓄意征服他们的国家，把衪的子民连根拔起，使衪们流放异地。在这段漫长的消沉日子，以色列民的盼望越来越黯淡了。
然而，在合适的时候，神差衪的儿子到来，领以色列民走出黑暗和进入光明中。神这样做不单是为了以色列民 － 因为耶稣是“神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”（约翰福音 1:29）。在十字架上，耶稣完全毁坏了黑暗，因为罪既然已得赦免，我们便能回到光明中了。
远超过赦免我们的“小”罪，耶稣更保证赦免我们爱黑暗的罪。我们便不会再受到黑暗的辖制，并且得以进入神国的光明之中。
我们仍然住在一个黑暗的世界，患难和残暴的鼓声永远不会停止。然而我们有特权和责任在世上把神国的光明反映出来。我们可以藉着遵行基督的教导：以喜乐去爱和事奉神和邻舍，来实行出来。
祷告
主耶稣，无论有什么黑暗的时候、有什么黑暗的地方、和不管怎样黑暗，我也希望能发光。耶稣，求你帮助我去发光！阿们。
歌罗西书 1:9-14
9因此，我们自从听见的日子，也就为你们不住地祷告祈求，愿你们在一切属灵的智慧悟性上，满心知道神的旨意，
10好叫你们行事为人对得起主，凡事蒙他喜悦，在一切善事上结果子，渐渐地多知道神；
11照他荣耀的权能，得以在各样的力上加力，好叫你们凡事欢欢喜喜地忍耐宽容。
12又感谢父，叫我们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。
13他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；
14我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。
From Darkness To Light
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
Here’s the gospel (the “good news”): Jesus delivers the people of God from the dominion of darkness and brings them into the kingdom of light. There is no better news!
Here’s the background: Sin had plunged God’s people into darkness. They had no temple, no king, and no homeland. The problem was their own repeated sin of turning away from God and pursuing the sinful excesses of neighboring kingdoms. So God sent other nations, that were bent on conquest, to uproot his people and take them into exile. In a long era of gloom, Israel’s hope grew dim.
But when the time was right, God sent his Son to bring Israel out of darkness and into light. And not just Israel—because Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). On the cross he broke the back of darkness, because forgiveness of sins leads back to the light.
Beyond our “little” sins, Jesus has secured forgiveness for our love of darkness. This frees us from the clutches of darkness and brings us into the light of the kingdom of God.
We still live in a dark world. The drumbeat of tragedies and atrocities never stops. But we have the privilege and the duty to reflect the light of God’s kingdom into the world. We do it by keeping the law of Christ: loving and serving both God and neighbor with joy.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, whenever it’s dark, wherever it’s dark, and however it’s dark, I want to shine. Jesus, help me to shine! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
