Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Micah, Chapter 7 verse 8, “When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me,” (NRSVB). The prophet Micah prophesied during the same time as the Prophet Isaiah. He saw the invasion of the Assyrian armies, reducing Israel to an Assyrian province after the fall of Samaria, and he was warning Judah that the same would happen to Judah and Jerusalem if there would not be understanding and the light to knowledge of the Lord returned to the leaders. He prophesied that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Light of the World, the Messiah, ultimately, “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more,” Micah 4 verse 3, (Amplified Bible). This darkness that falls over nations and people, is a darkness of rejecting the Word of the Lord, not inquiring his will for the nations and people. Everyone suffers in this situation, but those who earnestly seek the Lord and pray for his light to be cast on and in their darkness, will be given hope and truthful answers that will lead to life. When leaders cast dark shadows over the Word of God and reject it, people are stuck in the land of darkness. The prayerful intercession of the believers will not be disregarded by the Lord, for his light will break through, and He will lead the people to receive peace and restoration again. Through the coming of Christ, the Light of the World, and his work on the Cross, breaking the cloud of darkness that drives out the light of understanding, we have become children of the Light.
Many scientific research projects are focussed on solutions to create more light and more power. These projects meet with different outcomes, and some are more successful than others. Human beings can construct some forms of light and light sources to help create physical light, but the source of spiritual light and understanding can only come through the Source of understanding given through the Spirit of God. When we start to comprehend how clouded and dark our own understanding and interpretations are, we start to see that it is only by His light, that we will know and believe the Christ Light. God reveals himself through his Word, the Light for our feet, and the Lamp for our path. In Bethlehem He revealed himself as the Light of the World.
The Apostle Paul, in his First Letter to the Thessalonians in Chapter 5 verse 5 wrote, “You are all children of light, and children of the day,” (NRSVB). He encouraged the congregations who were persecuted, asking him, “when the Lord would be coming again,” to continue to be lights in the dark world, despite the bitter suffering. Children born of light can be nothing else than light beams or rays, so they will shine in the darkness and be visible, therefore they will be targeted for being lights in a dark world. Paul’s letters encouraged the Thessalonian congregation and gave them renewed strength to be lights in dark times, and to look and wait for the deliverance of the Lord. In these times we have been alerted to many dark practices. As children of the Light it is important that we stay awake and be alert and are not frightened, nor intimidated by the darkness that reigns around us. Being children of the Light means that we will put on our armourment given to us by the Holy Spirit, namely the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of hope and salvation. Protecting our hearts and minds with Christ’s love, drawing on the faith we received through grace, will guide us to shine the light of hope, salvation and redemption to those who are still in the grip of darkness and despair.
Father, we thank you that you have given us your Light and your Love. Help us to be light-bearers who witness your grace to those who are suffering and without hope, Amen.