ISAIAH 60:1-4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2008

YOUR LIGHT HAS COME

1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Isaiah 60:1-4 (NKJV)

The Epiphany Season of the Church Year began on Sunday and lasts until Ash Wednesday. This year the Season is short because of the early date of Easter in 2008. The text for today’s Devotion was the Old Testament Lesson for the Festival of the Epiphany.

1 “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” Isaiah speaks to the City of Zion, the Children of Israel, who have been living in a world of darkness. Not an absence of Light, but a world covered and shrouded with the darkness of sin. His prophetic words tell the people of God to get up because their Light has come and that Light is the Glory of the Lord that shines upon them.

Think about this in terms of our world today. Even though we have just celebrated the Festival of the Epiphany, of Jesus Christ the Light of the World, our world is still filled with sin. An act of sin is the basis of most news stories. An act of sin is the cause of most problems in our world. I even believe that the sin of greed is the cause of unemployment and poverty. We sometimes become depressed amid all of the darkness of sin that surrounds us. You need not be. You can live in the light because YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

2 “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” When Isaiah speaks these words, the Children of Israel know exactly what he is talking about. Do you know what Isaiah is referring to here? The children of Israel knew because the Word of God was passed down from adults to children, generation after generation. Today, most parents will teach their children all about sports and other activities in which their children can excel, but the teachings of God seems to be unimportant. To make matters worse, we can’t find enough Sunday School teachers and in far too many places, a Sunday School Class is such that there is not enough time to really teach a lesson, and in addition, is not held during the summer or on Holiday weekends.

The Children of Israel knew that it was a message of hope when Isaiah said “darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people and Glory shall be seen upon you.” The reference is to Exodus 10:21-22. This is the ninth plague where darkness covered the earth for days. The darkness was so deep that people could not see each other face to face. YET, at the same time there was light in the homes of the Children of Israel. In this world filled with the darkness of sin, there is still LIGHT in the homes and lives of those who believe and follow Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. We need more hearts and lives that are illuminated by Jesus. You can live in that LIGHT because YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 “ Lift up your eyes all around, and see They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

This is what would be the result of the Children of Israel living in the Light.  Out of the darkness of sin would come the Gentiles seeking to know the God of Israel. I would like to think that this is also a Prophecy of the Wise Men coming to the manger at Bethlehem, but I am not sure if it is or not. Isaiah tells them to look around and see all of the people who are drawn to the LIGHT of the Glory of God. What joy there must have been for the Israelites to even see some of their sons and daughters returning to the faith. What power that light had and has today. That same powerful light has the power to bring people from all areas of life, from terrorism, from crime, from apathy, and Yes, even your son, daughter, husband, wife, father, mother, neighbor, and friend, if that Light can be welcomed into more and more lives. The hope can become a reality because YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

WE PRAY:  Heavenly Father, fill me with the light of your Holy Spirit. Then lead me. The world is filled with the darkness of sin, may I be a Beacon that leads people out of the darkness to live in your Light. Amen

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

There are so many ways in which we can share the Light of the Love of Jesus. In your time of prayer at the close of the day, consider these words as you conclude your prayer, Lord I ask that tomorrow you will lead me to the place where your Light can shine from me into the life of one who so desperately needs to know you and your love. AMEN.