24th January 2025

Whenever I think of light I think of illumination. Light is the opposite of darkness. If there is no light, I can’t see, and I would trip over anything that’s in my way. As John says in his gospel: ‘It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.’ (John 11:10). 

Now that’s perfectly true of course but recently I noticed a house that had solar panels fixed to its roof. Solar panel electricity systems capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells, converting the sunlight into electrical power, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting. 

This got me thinking about light and Jesus as the ‘light of the world’. We understand, quite rightly, that in using this description of himself, Jesus was talking about illumination: dispelling spiritual darkness as he enables us to see and understand the truth. But in addition to this Jesus, as the ‘light of the world’, is also the source of energy. Speaking of Jesus, Paul writes, ‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is the power of creation, and his energy keeps the whole universe together.

Jesus not only shows or illuminates the way, he gives us the power to walk in it. Again, as John tells us, ‘Yet wherever men did accept him he gave them the power to become sons of God.’ (John 1:12 J.B. Phillips New Testament).

When light shines on a PV cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. As we allow the light of Jesus to shine fully in our lives, he will empower and energise us to live for him. 

As Paul shows, ‘…this is the secret: Christ lives in you… So we tell others about Christ…We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.’ (Colossians 1:27- 29 NLT).

Let’s walk together through 2025 in the light and power of Jesus.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church