THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
(Isaiah 9:2)

MEDITATION:
Imagine being in a cave without a flashlight. You can’t see any
shadows; you can’t even see your hand! Shadows are only visible
in the presence of light; if there is no light, then there are no shadows.

Regardless of how dark, how large, or how ominous a shadow may be,
it is only there because there is light.
David says,
    “Even though I walk through the valley
      of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,”
      (Psalm 23:4a)
Look at why he was confident in overcoming fear:
    “for you are with me; your rod
      and your staff, they comfort me”
      (Psalm 23:4b)

Jesus has taken the sting out of sin, and the fear out of the grave.
He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to give us confidence
that He will always be with us and watch over us.

Even when we are in the shadows of sin, He is with us; and with His
presence we can be victorious over the temptations that strive to drag
us down and defeat us.
    He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers
    the lambs in His arms and carries them close to
    His heart; He gently leads those that have young.
    (Isaiah 40:11)

ACTION:
Maybe you have a struggle with some temptation in your life.
It could be some sin that continues to tempt you, or maybe it
is how you interact and treat other people.
We should ask ourselves:
    Have I allowed myself to be judgmental and critical of others?
    Have my attitudes caused a relational gap with friends and family?

If the answers to either of these questions is, “Yes”, then we need to
learn from David how to be aware of the Lord’s presence in our life
and the value of staying close to Him so we can endure the shadows
of temptation.

We need to take time to breathe and walk with the Lord, instead of
going your own way. We need to remember that we have been promised
freedom when we are “in Jesus Christ”.
    Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
    who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ
    Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set
    you free from the law of sin and death.
    (Romans 8:1-2)

We all need encouragement, so we should pray for those who may have
had their spirit broken because of sin, the loss of a loved one, or some
other discouraging event in their life. Remember these encouraging
words from God’s Word to mankind:
    “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
      with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel
      and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in
      Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive
      and are left will be caught up together with them in
      the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will
      be with the Lord forever.”
      (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for shining Your light into my life whenever
darkness tries to overtake me. I am thankful that Your light causes sin to
show up as a shadow so I can see it for what it is. When You are with me I
am confident that I can have victory over the temptations that strive to create
a gap in my relationship with You. Thank You for Your assurance that You
can comfort me in my darkest hours, including when I have fallen prey to
temptations. Remind me that because of Jesus and my relationship with Him
I can be forgiven and restored. Help me to remember that because You forgive
me, I can confidently forgive myself. Thank You for Your forgiveness and
restoration!”

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