What Jesus Did! 'Doing What God Wants' — John 3:20-21

Friday, February 20, 2026

[Concluding his talk with Nicodemus, Jesus said,] "All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."
— John 3:20-21 NLT

Key Thought

A life dedicated to God comes to his light. A person living this kind of life doesn't fear judgment or rejection or truth. Any tendency and temptation toward sinfulness - whether it is falsehood, dishonesty, greed, sexual sin, or ... - can be overcome through God's grace when those seeking righteousness come to the light. So the question you and I face each day is very simple: Do I gladly come to the light to let God show me his grace in ways that allow me to see my sinfulness, shallowness, and selfishness and to be transformed? My desire to open my life to the light of God's truth and holiness reveals my desire to do what is right. My reluctance reveals how the power of sin has come into my life and my heart.

Today's Prayer

Almighty Father, God of holiness and grace, search me and try me and convict me of my sin. I want to be holy and blameless, not just by your gift of grace, but also through the sanctifying power of your Spirit at work to transform me to be more and more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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8 Related Resources by Heartlight

John 3:20-21
Devo: Today's Verse
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the...."
John 3:20-21
Devo: Today's Verse
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the...."
Darkness and Light
Illustration of John 3:20-21
Inspirational illustration of John 3:20-21 -- Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what h
Drawn to the Light
Devo: Together in Christ
"There is no judgment against anyone who believes in [God's Son]. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in...."
See All 8 Related Resources about John 3:20-21

Illustration

Illustration of John 3:20-21 NLT — "All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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