Bible League: Living His Word The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.— Isaiah 9:2 NLT Apart from Christ, people walk in darkness. The sun, of course, still shines and the things of life can still be seen. The darkness in question is not physical darkness, but spiritual darkness. It's the kind of darkness in which you see things clearly, but without understanding their true meaning and purpose. For example, you view God's creation, but you don't see it as God's creation. You see sin and evil, but you don't see them as sin and evil. You see goodness and grace, but you don't see them as such. Your physical sight is 20/20, but your spiritual sight is far less. People who live in a land of deep darkness don't know who they are and what they stand for. They live in God's world, they're indebted to His will and ways, but they don't realize it or act like it. As a result, they sin against God by going their own way. They pay a heavy price for this. Indeed, they pay the heaviest of prices. The Apostle Paul says of them, "But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." (Romans 2:5) The good news is that there's a spiritual light available. There's a spiritual light that can shine into the land of spiritual darkness and light it up. Jesus is the light. He's the light because His teachings explain the world as it really is, and His life models the way we should go in the world. The Apostle John said, "... his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5) You don't have to make use of the spiritual light, you can stay in the darkness if you want, but you can never keep it from shining. Today, then, make use of the light, accept it for what it is. If you do, you will start to see things as they really are, and you will start to act like you really should act. Your transformation will be radical—like night to day. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingExodus 16, 17, 18 Exodus 16 -- Manna, Quail and the Sabbath NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 17 -- Water from the Rock; the Defeat of the Amalekites NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Exodus 18 -- Jethro Visits and Counsels Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 19:16-30 Matthew 19 -- Divorce; Jesus and the Little Children; the Rich Young Ruler NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If I have sinned, what have I done to you,O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you? Insight Job referred to God as a watcher or observer of humanity. He was expressing the feeling that God seemed like an enemy to him—someone who mercilessly watched him squirm in his misery. We know that God does watch over everything that happens to us. Challenge We must never forget that he sees us with compassion, not merely with critical scrutiny. His eyes are eyes of love. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Colossians 1:28 Perfect in Christ Jesus.Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps "imperfection;" every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters "imperfection." You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself. But amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you--you are "perfect in Christ Jesus." In God's sight, you are "complete in him;" even now you are "accepted in the Beloved." But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? The Church of Christ then will be so pure, that not even the eye of Omniscience will see a spot or blemish in her; so holy and so glorious, that Hart did not go beyond the truth when he said-- "With my Saviour's garments on, Holy as the Holy One." Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this vast but short sentence, "Complete in Christ." Not till then shall we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. Doth not thy heart leap for joy at the thought of it? Black as thou art, thou shalt be white one day; filthy as thou art, thou shalt be clean. Oh, it is a marvellous salvation this! Christ takes a worm and transforms it into an angel; Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in his glory, peerless in his beauty, and fit to be the companion of seraphs. O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ. Daily Light on the Daily Path Deuteronomy 33:25 "Your locks will be iron and bronze, And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.Matthew 13:11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Psalm 68:35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Judges 5:21 "The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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