In the Light

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

IN THE LIGHT

Isa 9:1-2

9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan —  2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death  a light has dawned.

NIV

There is way too much gloom and doom in the world. It appears there certainly was in the lives of the Israelites. We know from the many accounts of their travels and times of captivity because they forgot God, they had much distress. There are people throughout the course of history all around the world who have had times of gloom, times of distress. There have been lands who have been humbled by forces beyond their control. There are people living today all around us who experience gloom and live under distress, sadness, without hope. But God has made a way to relieve that gloom, that distress and hopelessness.

Matt 4:12-17

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."   17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 

NIV

A great light has come into the world. Those living in darkness now have the opportunity to come into the light. Jesus calls people from the gloom of darkness into his light. Sometimes people may appear happy on the outside, but there is that shadow of death looming in their hearts. There is pain and suffering within and sometimes without, visible for all to see. But Jesus can lift that cloud or that shadow and bring true joy in to the hearts and minds of people. It does require that one effort, the decision of the will to repent, turn from one way of living to another. It does require a change of heart. While living in the shadow of death we could say our hearts are bent toward evil, which is our heart is not bent toward God. But when we decide to hear the call, and come out from under the shadow of death, we change the bent of our heart. It now is aimed or bent toward God. It is as though our heart has been born again. There is no longer the shadow of death which looms within for we have been given eternal life. It is sad, however there are some people who coming into the light see their sin, and do not want it exposed so shrink back into the darkness to live in their hearts bent toward evil. The scripture tells us this is true.

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."   

NIV

We are blessed to have left that darkness behind, walking into the light and letting that light transform us into a child of God, becoming a light ourselves for Jesus has told us we are the light of the world. We are told to put our light on a lampstand so our light can been seen by all, rather than hiding it under a bushel. Living in the light, reflecting the light of Jesus to all who walk by our path. What a joy to live in the light.