avatar
Lane Jordan
avatarLane Jordan4 min read  

God is the Light – Pathways to Organization

I have had the privilege of serving on three church staffs, one of which was with Pastor Dr. Charles Stanley. He was among the most humble and Godly men I have ever met. I felt that, through the Holy Spirit in my life, I could find another church just as filled with the Holy Spirit as that one when we moved.

About ten years ago, we were drawn to the leadership, teaching, and community of one of Dallas-based Gateway Church’s campus churches. Each visit was a spiritual experience, a testament to the presence of the Holy Spirit in that place. We didn’t just volunteer; we became part of a family and met some of our dearest friends there.

This month, it was discovered that our Senior Pastor had a moral failure that had been handled inappropriately thirty years ago. In other words, he should have been made to step away from preaching. His sin had been covered up rather than exposed, and though we are called to forgive, to date we have not seen any true repentance.

Now, this church is in a state of determining what to do next: the pastor has resigned and the reputation of this church, as well as every Christian church, is now under scrutiny. We are in a fog of confusion and despair.

What do we do now? We focus on Jesus. The church is the body of Christ, not one man or one preacher.

When the Philistines killed King Saul and his three sons, Israel was in a horrible place. Their king was dead, his family was decimated, Israel’s army was shattered, and the nation had lost part of its territory. Worst of all, the name of the Lord had been dishonored (I Samuel 31:8-13).

The grief the people expressed in the subsequent fast was genuine. All of Israel could rightly share in it. King Saul’s sin and rejection of the Lord’s will brought destruction and shame to the whole kingdom. The nation had reached a low point that only God could lift it out of. As it turned out, He was prepared to do just that through another king, one who was a ‘man after his own heart’ (I Samuel 13:1), King David, and later his own son, Jesus.

God is never surprised by men’s ways. God is on His throne and always in control. We may never know why things occur, but we must never forget that all we need to do is lean on God and trust Him.

Action Plan

We are now asking ourselves, “How do we move forward?”

First, we follow our God, the Shephard, who cares for His bride, the church.

We focus on the path God has laid down for us, not a particular person. We must spend time confessing any known sin and asking God for forgiveness. We must stay in community with other believers, helping and building each other up.

We need to remember what God promised us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God will stand with us as we navigate this season of great sadness.

God also knows we are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. We have been following our pastor’s teaching for years and have been ministered to. So, I claim this verse: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

We must never forget that God is the light in any darkness we may find ourselves in. Stay in God’s light, and you won’t see the darkness! Stay in His light, and we will focus on Him, not the evil in our midst daily.

I pray that whatever darkness you may be in today, you lift your head toward your Father in heaven and dwell in His light.

Manna from Heaven

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. I John 1:5

Give

Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.

More from Lane Jordan

  • avatarLane Jordan

    The Worth of Words – Pathways to Organization

    Here are some Bible verses about the power of words: Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. A famous quote from Maya Angelou says, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Let’s celebrate the Love Month of February with words of love and kindness. Manna from Heaven I pray these verses will bless you as you speak to your loved ones: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

    4 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    New Devotional Out Now! Treasure – Pathways to Organization

    I had the joy of writing this alongside Lisa Burkhardt Worley and the Pearls of Promise Ministry Team and we believe each day’s devotion will inspire you in your walk with the Lord. Great for Christmas presents too! Treasure: A Pearls of Promise 52-Week Devotional Manna from Heaven I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    2 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    For God to Heal our Nation – Pathways to Organization

    If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. In 2 Chronicles 7:19-22, God says, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and command I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. … Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why he brought all this disaster on them.” God means business when we worship ourselves and reject His Word.

    3 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    God is the Light – Pathways to Organization

    As it turned out, He was prepared to do just that through another king, one who was a ‘man after his own heart’ (I Samuel 13:1), King David, and later his own son, Jesus. Action Plan We are now asking ourselves, “How do we move forward?” First, we follow our God, the Shephard, who cares for His bride, the church. We need to remember what God promised us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God will stand with us as we navigate this season of great sadness.

    4 min read
See all from Lane Jordan

Editor's Picks

avatar

Lane Jordan

More from Lane Jordan

  • avatarLane Jordan

    The Worth of Words – Pathways to Organization

    Here are some Bible verses about the power of words: Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. A famous quote from Maya Angelou says, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Let’s celebrate the Love Month of February with words of love and kindness. Manna from Heaven I pray these verses will bless you as you speak to your loved ones: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

    4 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    New Devotional Out Now! Treasure – Pathways to Organization

    I had the joy of writing this alongside Lisa Burkhardt Worley and the Pearls of Promise Ministry Team and we believe each day’s devotion will inspire you in your walk with the Lord. Great for Christmas presents too! Treasure: A Pearls of Promise 52-Week Devotional Manna from Heaven I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    2 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    For God to Heal our Nation – Pathways to Organization

    If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. In 2 Chronicles 7:19-22, God says, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and command I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. … Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why he brought all this disaster on them.” God means business when we worship ourselves and reject His Word.

    3 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    God is the Light – Pathways to Organization

    As it turned out, He was prepared to do just that through another king, one who was a ‘man after his own heart’ (I Samuel 13:1), King David, and later his own son, Jesus. Action Plan We are now asking ourselves, “How do we move forward?” First, we follow our God, the Shephard, who cares for His bride, the church. We need to remember what God promised us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God will stand with us as we navigate this season of great sadness.

    4 min read
See all from Lane Jordan