Advent Devotion – A Light Shines in the Darkness – Day 4

I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42:6-7

Bringing Light Into Our Lives

Isaiah 42 is one of the “Servant Songs” in the book of Isaiah. In these sections of Isaiah, the Lord talks to his Son. These sections of Isaiah are prophecies of the coming Messiah. The verses before our Bible reading describe the Messiah as:

• God’s chosen one in whom the Father delighted (verse 1). We think of Jesus’ baptism when the Father said, “This is my Son… with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
• One who would not shout or cry out, or raise his voice (verse 2). We think of Jesus remaining silent at his trials and going to the cross willingly.
• One who would not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick (verse 3). We think of Jesus gently and lovingly working with people, careful not to push them away.

In today’s reading, the Father says that he will call Jesus and take hold of his hand. God the Father directed every aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Father says that Jesus will open eyes that are blind and free captives from prison. Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, and the sick. And what prison did Jesus free people from? Jesus’ death on the cross provided the forgiveness that freed us from the worst prison in the universe—the prison of hell.

God the Father also calls his Son a “light for the Gentiles.” Strictly speaking, the Gentiles are people who are not Jews. In this context, the Gentiles are unbelievers—unbelievers who sit in the darkness of sin, captive to the guilt and shame of their sin. Jesus called himself the “light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus brings the light of forgiveness, life, and peace to those held captive to sin. We thank Jesus for bringing his light into our lives!

And where do we find ourselves in this reading? The apostle Paul said that he was appointed by the Lord to be a light for the nations so he could bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). Paul proclaimed Jesus as he traveled the Roman world. When Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, he was commissioning them—and us!—to be lights for the nations to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Do you remember and realize how “dark” the world is? Do you live with the knowledge that everyone who doesn’t trust in Jesus will spend eternity in the darkness and misery of hell? You are the light that can share and reflect the eternal Light who has paid for the sins of the world. What a privilege. What a responsibility!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have given me the joyful responsibility to be a light to this sin-darkened world. Give me the courage and discipline I need to carry out your will for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Written by Angela Kom