In the daily devotional A Year With Thomas Merton, the reading for today is entitled New Year’s Darkness. Merton writes about the darkness of January and the fact that it had not only been snowing in Kentucky, but the snow mixed with rain made it seem even more dark. But, he finishes the entry by commenting on the peace he also senses in the darkness. He concludes that he would be “foolish to leave such peace with no reason.”

Can we find peace in the midst of darkness?

That’s a question I’ve been asking myself over the past few months. In the midst of darkness when it seems God is no longer speaking or giving direction, can we actually find peace? I have to say the answer is “yes”. But only if we know our peace comes from God at all times. The mystics called it the dark night of the soul. When God is in the refining process of the saint. How we respond to such a dark night determines how long the dark night will last. Or at least that’s what I used to think. Do we respond with despair? Do we respond with anguish? Do we respond with peace? I’ve come to the conclusion that the dark night of the soul might also be a safe place. After all, since we know God will never leave us nor forsake us, we can also find great peace and comfort that even in the darkness, He is faithfully watching over us.

As we enter a new year what are you expecting? Are you expecting great things? Are you expecting mediocrity? Are you expecting darkness? As for me, I’m expecting great things. I received an email from a friend yesterday with a great word of encouragement. It wasn’t a lengthy email, but remember, quantity does not rule over quality.

My friend wrote – “Blessings for 2010 – Year of change secured as a result of the purging over the past five years.”

Those are very encouraging words.

The lighthouse picture above is covered in snow and appears very gray and dark as the light isn’t even on. That picture was taken earlier today in the midst of a storm. I’m believing the darkness is lifting and we’re heading for a brilliantly bright New Year!

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

“And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in Him. So if we continue to live in Him, we won’t sin either.”
1 John 3:5-6

Wow! Think about that. John is telling us there that if we “live in Jesus we won’t sin.” Let that sink in for a few moments. Many eject from the idea of holiness by having what I call a Paul complex. The Apostle Paul declared that he was the “chief of all sinners.” As a result many today excuse the sin in their life by saying they are just like Paul. But, who are we following? Paul? Or Jesus?

A life of holiness is a life of “sinning no more.” When defining Christian perfection John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said it’s not that we are “without” sin. But we do “sin no more.” When we are in Christ, “we won’t sin.” When we find ourselves struggling with sin, or doing what we know is not pleasing to God, we ask forgiveness, and receive His grace to sin no more in that particular area of our life.

That’s precisely what Andrew Murray is getting at today in the daily journal – The Best of Andrew Murray on Prayer.

Jesus Said – “Go and sin no more…”

After her accusers dropped their stones and slithered away into the crowd, Jesus told the woman “caught in the act adultery” to “go and sin no more.” Did He mean that the woman would never sin again? Did he mean that every area of her life was totally clean and she would never sin again? While He did say she was forgiven, He was also emphasizing the fact that she should “go and sin” in that particular area of her life “no more.”

Michael Brown’s book Go and Sin No More is an amazing book which looks at the whole area of holiness. This is not a book to be read by the faint of heart. It falls into the category of what I call an “Owee” book. There are a lot of “ouch” moments in the book as we discover what it really means to live a holy life.

While this is no easy task, to live a holy life in the midst of an unholy world, we can take heart in knowing it is possible. As Andrew Murray writes…

“By faith as we claim these words – ‘If we continue to live in Him, we won’t sin either” – God the Almighty has pledged to make this promise a reality.”

Andrew Murray Prayer
Dear Father, the life I live in Your Son frees me from the power of sin. As I live in Him help me to claim and live the promise: “If we continue to live in Him, we won’t sin either.” In the perfect name of Jesus, Amen.

Find out more about this Devotional Journey Here

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

“The Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature.”
Hebrews 1:3

The Andrew Murray reading for today discusses the letter to the Hebrews. Murray quotes 13:20-21 where we read – “May the God of peace…equip you with all you need for doing his will. May He produce in you…all that is pleasing to Him.”

What does it mean to attain Christian perfection? Is this even something we can attain? Murray writes…

“The thought of being totally equipped to please Him is too high. The promise is too large. And yet, the promise remains, stimulating our faith.”

Daily Perfection?

I must admit some days I feel more “perfect” than others. Have you ever experienced one of those great days where you just know you’re in the center of God’s will and absolutely nothing could knock your faith out of place? But, we also know those days can disappear as quickly as they appear. When this happens, how do we truly “hold fast and hold tight” as the author of Revelation encourages us to do? Could it be this is the time when we find hope and comfort in the words of Murray when he points out “the promise stimulates our faith”.

If Jesus is the “perfect mirror image of God” and if we are being “perfected in Christ Jesus,” does this mean we too are called to be a “mirror image of God”? How can this be?

What do you see when you look in the mirror today?

Where do we turn when we feel detached from God? We keep listening for His voice, but just when we think we’ve heard it, something happens which once again rocks our faith. Where do we turn when we feel like we’re holding on with only fingernails and are looking somewhat ripped up, torn apart and bleeding? In his book The North Face of God Ken Gire quotes C.S. Lewis when discussing times like these. Lewis once wrote, “Why are so many holy places dark places?”

That’s a great question. A few pages before Ken Gire encourages us how to make it through the dark places. Ken writes…

“Although we can’t choose how long we will wait in the darkness, we can choose how well we will wait. I think we all know how to wait poorly, so we don’t need that explained. But, what does it mean to wait well? What does that look like?”

Andrew Murray Prayer
Dear Father, as a sinful creature, it is difficult to imagine that I can be perfectly equipped through the work of Christ. Increase my faith as You make it a reality. Amen

Find out more about this Devotional Journey Here

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus