Lord's Day Devotion - Light of the World

 

The shepherds abiding in the fields saw the glory of the Lord shining upon them.  Then theyheard the good news of great joy that Jesus was born.  They went to check it out (Luke 2:8 & 9).

The wise men from the east saw the star.  it must have been extra bright or big in order for them to observe its distinction from the usual ones.  When they saw it they,

"rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."

They too went to find the child Jesus and 

"fell down and worshiped Him" (Matthew 2:10-11).

So truly what Isaiah prophesied came to pass.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone" (Isaiah 9:2).

From the time of the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, until Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary heard from God through Gabirel, the angel about the forerunner of Jesus Christ and of the immienent birth of Jesus himself in the New Testament, there had been about 400-500 years of silence from God.

The darkness on earth was great.

Jesus came and declared, 

"I am the light of the world ..." (John 8:12).  

In John 9:5, Jesus also reassures the people,

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (ESV).

The apostle John saw and knew this light and proclaiming with his quill pen,

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

This almost sounds like a Christmas message but I assure you, the Light, Jesus, is the good news for all times.  It's like the candle-lighting service some churches use to demonstrate how the Light, Jesus, lights up the one who has accepted Him as Savior.  Then he or she passes it on.

One person has a lit candle.  They light the candle of the one next to them.  The next person then lights the candle of the person next to them and so on, until everyone's candle is lit.  This sheds so much light in a darkened room or an outdoors' nighttime service, the area lights up.

Jesus told His disciples,

"You are the light of the world" (see Matthew 5:14).

And Paul wrote,

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV).

God who is light and who in Him is no darkness, at all (see 1 John 1:5), has shone His light into our hearts.  What a gracious God we have!  Through Jesus Christ, light has come and pierced our darkness, once for all.  In appreciation we can then let our lights, or rather the light of Jesus, shine out of our hearts, lighting The Way for others.

Let's not hide our light.

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Like the words of the well sung Sunday School song encourages, sing,

"This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

Let is shine,

All the time."

Let it shine ... all the time.

As we gather together this Lord's Day to remember what Jesus has done for us on the cross, remember that He is the Original Light who lights our 'candles'.  Go forth then, after partaking of the broken bread, and drinking of the cup of wine, and light someone elses' candle - that of the one who still sits in darkness.

Jesus, Light of the world, in You there is no darkness at all!  Thank You for bringing us Your light into our dark world and life.  We give You are thanks, amen.

                                           ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on Isaiah 9:2 ESV.

Sing, Light of the World, along with The Gospel Nostalgia.