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. 1 John 2:8-10
Walking in the Light
Anyone who has spent too long cooped up in one place knows what cabin fever feels like. At first, it’s comfortable, safe, familiar, and predictable. But slowly, irritation creeps in. Small things start to bother us. Our patience shortens. Our perspective narrows. The walls begin to feel closer. What once felt like shelter starts to feel like confinement.
Spiritually, cabin fever can happen, too. When people remain inward-focused and demonstrate by their attitudes and actions that they love themselves more than others, darkness closes in. Our hearts become disconnected from loving relationships with God and with others.
That is what the apostle John addresses in our Bible reading when he says, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”
The best way to overcome cabin fever is to step out of your place of confinement, breathe in the fresh air again, and, best of all, go where the sun is shining.
John reminds us that the true light is already shining. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, continues to shine the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness into our darkened hearts. The good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead in victory, enlightens our hearts to believe that God’s love for us will overcome the darkness of evil.
In the end, spiritual cabin fever fades when we remember that life in Christ was never meant to be lived in isolation or fear. His love replaces our impatience with peace. His Word and promise of life with him forever, replaces our weariness with renewed purpose—to love one another as Christ loved us.
Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light. Where Christ-like love is practiced, the darkness lifts, the cabin fever fades, and life opens up again.
Prayer:
Gracious Savior, you are the true Light shining in the darkness. Drive hatred and bitterness from my heart. Fill me with your mercy so that my life reflects your love to others. Amen.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19
Come, Follow Me
“Follow me.” Those two words changed Andrew and Peter’s lives forever. Up to that point, they were regular, ordinary men working at their job. But then, Jesus came to them and changed their lives forever.
Notice that Jesus does not say to them, “Become something extraordinary, and then, come, follow me.” He does not demand specific qualifications, spiritual maturity, or proven obedience. Instead, he calls them as they are.
And he promises that he will change them: “I will make you…” The power to change lives exists not in the disciples themselves, but in the Word of Jesus that creates what it commands. Just as God once spoke light into existence, Jesus now speaks faith to follow him into the hearts of fishermen.
“Follow me.” Those two words continue to be heard in unlikely places by unlikely recipients. Jesus’ call continues to be passed down through the Word of God to reach the ears and the hearts of the most unworthy people imaginable—you and me.
Jesus does not wait until we have sorted out our lives, cleared our nets, or resolved every spiritual question. He calls us as we are. He steps into the middle of our ordinary routines and says, “Come, follow me.” His call is an act of grace.
Jesus’ call continues to change countless hearts, minds, and lives still today.
“I will make you fishers of men.” This is the noble purpose Jesus has given to us in our lives. Notice again who does the work. Christian living is Jesus shaping us, through his Word, into people who naturally reflect his mercy and speak his gospel.
The disciples left their nets, but they gained a Savior. They left their boats, but they received a life-changing mission. They left their security, but they entered the kingdom of heaven opened to them by Jesus.
We, too, follow Jesus daily as he continues to call us through his Word of truth and grace. We trust him to continue forming us into his people and sending us out on his loving, life-changing mission.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for calling me by your grace. Give me ears to hear your Word, a heart to trust you, and hands willing to serve. Shape my life according to your will. Amen.
Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
Turn to the Light
Driving at night on winding, unfamiliar roads, we rely heavily on our GPS to get us where we need to be. On a recent drive, navigating the roads as they twisted and turned, I diligently scanned for deer and watched for broken tree limbs that might have come down on that windy night.
I realized that the GPS guiding me was extremely important, but there was something else I was relying on. Without it, I would never have made it home. Even a perfect map would have done me no good if I did not have headlights to show me where the turns were, where the dangers were.
Light is a good thing—it exposes the dangers around us that we need to avoid. It shows us where we are headed.
The light of Jesus is very good. In Jesus, God himself came into the world and promised: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Believing in Jesus is the way to the kingdom of heaven. He is the one who endured sin’s curse for us, removing it forever. And he is the one who rose from the darkness of his own tomb, bringing to light the way to everlasting life.
But until we reach heaven, many dangers still lurk in the darkness. Often, it feels like we’re driving at night with the lights turned off.
So, Jesus preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” By calling sinners to repent, Jesus is urgently pleading with us: “Turn to me in faith! Turn on the Light of the world! I will expose the dangers around you. I will guide you on the way of peace and bring you safely to the kingdom of heaven.”
When you are uncertain of where your life is heading, turn on the Light of the world. Turn to Jesus and trust his promise: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you that your kingdom has come among us through Jesus. Turn my heart toward you in repentance and faith. Let your mercy and forgiveness guide my life today. Amen.
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9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls that were filled with the seven last plagues came and spoke with me. He said, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 He carried me away in spirit to a great and high mountain, and he showed me the [1] Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God. Its radiance is similar to a very precious stone, like crystal-clear jasper.
12 It has a large, high wall. It has twelve gates. Twelve angels are at the gates, and twelve names are engraved on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 Three gates are on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14 The city’s wall also has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod so that he could measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square. Its length and width are equal. He measured the city with the measuring rod: 12,000 stadia. [2] Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall by human measurement, which was what the angel used: 144 cubits.
18 The wall is made of jasper, and the city is pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall had been adorned with every kind of precious stone.
The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, [3] the seventh diamond, [4] the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, [5] the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates are twelve pearls. Each of the gates is made out of one pearl. And the street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.
Footnotes
Revelation 21:10 A few witnesses to the text add great and.
Revelation 21:16 The measurements are not converted to modern equivalents because that would make it more difficult to recognize the symbolical significance of the original numbers.
Revelation 21:20 Or carnelian. The specific identification of these gems is uncertain. This translation uses names of recognizable modern gemstones, even if they might not have the same mineral makeup as the ancient stones.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer existed. 2 And I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And from the throne [1] I heard a loud voice that said, “Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.”
5 The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “Look, I am making everything new!” He also said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me:
It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty, I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who overcomes will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But those who are cowardly, unbelieving, detestable, murderers, adulterers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all the liars will have their share in the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
Footnotes
Revelation 21:3 Some witnesses to the text read from heaven.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, great and small, standing in front of the throne, and books were opened. Another book was also opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged by the things written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and the Grave [1] gave up the dead that were in them, and they were judged, each one according to what he had done.
14 Death and the Grave [2] were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, bound him for a thousand years, 3 threw him into the abyss, locked it, and set a seal on it, so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years come to an end. After this he must be released for a short time.
They Lived and Reigned With Christ
4 Then I saw thrones, and those who were sitting on them were given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast and his image, and they did not receive his mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years came to an end.) This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. Instead they will be priests of God and of Christ. And they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Satan Defeated
7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be released from his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. They are as numerous as the sand of the sea.
9 They came up over the broad expanse of the earth, and they surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of [1] heaven and devoured them. 10 And the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are. There they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
Footnotes
Revelation 20:9 A few witnesses to the text omit God out of.
11 I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are like blazing flames, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, which no one knows except he himself. 13 He is also clothed in a garment that had been dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies in heaven, which were clothed with white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will shepherd them with an iron staff. He himself is going to trample the winepress of the fierce anger of the Almighty God. 16 On his garment and on his thigh this name is written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
17 I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out with a loud voice to all the birds that were flying in the middle of the sky. He said:
Come, gather together for God’s great supper, 18 so that you can eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military leaders, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great.
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 The beast was captured along with the false prophet who performed miracles on his behalf, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and had worshipped its image. These two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire, which burns with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword that comes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
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The Conference of Presidents (COP) met Jan. 6-9. At that meeting, the COP discussed the following items: The current number of pastoral vacancies. There are 162 total vacancies for pastor-trained […]
Enrollment in WELS schools this school year has decreased slightly from the 2024–25 school year, according to the recently released 2025–26 school statistics. Lutheran high school enrollment continued to climb, […]
On Jan. 9, Charles Vannieuwenhoven was installed as the administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education. Attending the installation and participating in the laying on of hands were the presidents […]
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