The Source of Your Power

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘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.’” - John 8:12 
 
The thing about light is that it can be harnessed as a source of power. And the way Jesus treats the woman in John 8, during a time in her life when she needed it most, was a source of empowerment. This woman lived at the mercy of a culture that treated her unfairly; and at a time when she could have been abandoned, left to live her life on the margins of society, and left for dead, Jesus picked her up.

This woman was a victim of trauma, but when she met Jesus, she met a different kind of man, a man who didn’t put her down. He lifted her up and gave her a new lease on life. I’m struck by something Jesus says after confronting her attackers. Jesus turned to the woman and said, “where are those who condemned you?”  

She looked around and said, “there are none.” Then Jesus says something very significant. He says, “Neither do I condemn you.” I’m not sure if you realize the profundity and power of that statement. According to the social morals and religious rules of the time, this woman could have been lawfully stoned and publicly killed. But Jesus showed her compassion, and that was empowering.  

And so, as the light of the world, Jesus is saying, don’t let the darkness around you defeat you; don’t ever let the darkness in the world dim the light of your soul. Don’t let people, politicians, and unjust practices prevent you from progressing toward your purpose. It does not matter who the Pharisees are in your life. Don’t let them cause you to give up and throw in the towel.  

God’s light has the capacity to cancel. It has the ability to correct and cast out anything that would paralyze your potential, distract from your destiny, or prevent you from reaching your purpose. God is your source of power!