Worship Devotional CXLII
Light In The Darkness
(The True Light)
Worship Devotional from 10/23/22
There are signs of spiritual things that are present in the natural order of creation. In certain times and seasons on the earth, some of these signs are more apparent than perhaps at other times. As we enter into the winter season, the days grow darker and colder, which can remind us of the spiritual condition of the world, which is spiritually dark and cold. As we begin to realize our need for light and heat yet again for the season ahead, and close out the summer and harvest seasons for a season of dormancy, let us look not just for the physical light, but for the true spiritual light which is so desperately needed in these times.
This light dwells within those who believe in Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world, the True Light which is already shining. Our God is our Light, and He gives us light. James 1:17 tells us:
“Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.”
We are light in this world only because the One who is the source of all light lives within us. As 1 John 4:17b says,
“…for we are as He is in the world.”
The apostle Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6:
“Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God’s message, but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
With these songs this week we are praying that God will open the eyes of our hearts to see by faith the reality of His word, so that we may be sanctified in truth and no longer walk in the darkness of deception and sin. We are praying that He will awaken us to shine for His glory as we seek to do good works and to testify to His goodness and as we declare His praise and honor His holy name with our words and deeds, so that the eyes of those who are lost in the darkness of the world around us may also be opened to see the light of the gospel, and that the nations may come into the light and be saved. We pray in agreement with Paul, who said in Ephesians 1:17-19:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”
As we endure in the sufferings and trials of this life, pressing on in faith with eager hope and expectation for our heavenly future, we also rejoice in every circumstance and at all times, for we have been brought out of the darkness and into the light. We see clearly by faith even when the stormy chaos of the world is rampant all around us, and we offer hope to those who are hurting and broken, pointing them to the refuge of light that is offered by grace to those who will believe in the truth of Jesus Christ. We thank and praise the Lord our God, who is our light, and we shine as a testimony in this world with the light of the Holy Spirit who resides in our hearts.
Psalm 118:27a:
“The Lord is God and has given us light.”
1 John 1:5-10:
"Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, ‘We have fellowship with Him,’ yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, ‘We don’t have any sin,’ we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Ephesians 5:6-14:
“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth — discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:
‘Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.’”
Themes: Light, Faith, Holiness, Love, Glory, Eternity, The Nature of God, The Eyes of the Heart, Worship
Songs:
Scripture references:
Genesis 1:1-5
Psalms 27, 118:27, 119:105 & 130
Isaiah 9:1-7, 49:6-13, 58:6-8, 60:1-5
Matthew 4:12-17, 5:14-16, 6:19-24
Luke 11:33-36
John 1:1-18, 3:16-21, 8:12, 12:20-36
Acts 13:47-49
2 Corinthians 4-5
Ephesians 1:15-19, 5:6-14
Colossians 1:9-14
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Hebrews 12:28-29
James 1:16-18
1 Peter 2:1-10
1 John 1:5-10, 2:3-11