Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Yesterday I heard a convicting sermon about properly appreciating and handling the gift of Jesus. The preacher came from the familiar Isaiah 9:6. Yet, the Holy Spirit focused my attention on the first two verses of that chapter.

Today’s scripture, Isaiah 9:1-2 (NLT) prophesied…
[1] Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. [2] The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

Consider…
Notice I said today’s scripture prophesied. Especially verse 2 that prophesies…
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

When I heard and read those verses again, my mind immediately went to John 1:4-9 (NLT), which testifies…
[4] The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. [6] God sent a man, John the Baptist, [7] to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. [8] John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. [9] The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

By the way verses 4 and 5 from this passage were used in the Our Daily Bread video devotional last Friday, titled ‘Never in the Dark’.

Needless to say, the Holy Spirit got my full attention and led me to write about seeing the Light this week leading up to Christmas.

I love the poetic lines of John 1:4…

• The Word gave life to everything
• His life brought light to everyone

As we know the Word refers to Jesus, thus the verse is saying that Jesus gave life and brought light.

That turned on the John 8:12 (NLT) light switch where…
[12] Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus’ words choice implicitly reveals darkness leads to death, because light leads to life.

Thus, although Jesus gave physical life to everyone, He came as the Light to lead everyone from the darkness of sin that leads to death to eternal life.

Luke 1:78-79 (NLT) highlights it this way…
[78] Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, [79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Speaking of a lighted path, Jesus being the Word who became Light and brought life makes me see Psalms 119:105 (NLT) in a new light…
[105] Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

That pressed play on Greg O’Quinn singing…

Lead me Jesus… lead me
Every where I go
Lead me Jesus… lead me
Every where I go
Lead me Jesus… lead me
Every where I go
Take me by my hand and lead me on!

Guide me Jesus… guide me
Guide me Jesus… Guide me
Every where I go
Guide me Jesus… Guide me
Every where I go
Guide me Jesus… Guide me
Every where I go
Take me by my hand and lead me on!

Teach Me Jesus… Teach Me
Every where I go
Teach Me Jesus… Teach Me
Every where I go
Teach Me Jesus… Teach Me
Every where I go
Take me by my hand and lead me on!

Keep ‘a Me Jesus… Keep ‘a Me
Every where I go
Keep ‘a Me Jesus… Keep ‘a Me
Every where I go
Keep ‘a Me Jesus… Keep ‘a Me
Every where I go
Take me by my hand and lead me on!

Lead Me
Guide Me
Teach Me
Keep’a Me

The Holy Spirit showed me that although Jesus is the Light, I must let Him…
Lead Me
Guide Me
Teach Me
Keep’a Me

Like the wise men, God wants us to follow the Light that leads to Him. Let’s take another glimpse at Matthew 2:2 (NLT), which is often included in the Christmas story…
[2] “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Notice the wise men said they saw Jesus’ star! Said another way, the saw and followed the Light.

The Holy Spirit took this opportunity to say that although we walk by faith and not by sight, God still wants us to see and follow the Light!

That’s because as Jesus said in John 12:46 (NLT)…
[46] I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

Not remaining in the dark took me back to creation. Notice what God created first. Genesis 1:3-4 (NLT) says…
[3] Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

Also notice God SAW THE LIGHT WAS GOOD AND SEPARATED IT FROM DARKNESS.

That reveals a couple critical points about light and darkness…

• God deemed light good, thus by inference darkness is bad
• They’re not meant to coexist

Practically speaking that means 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT) dictates…
[14] Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? [15] What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? [16] And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [17] Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. [18] And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Notice, verse 14 asks how can light live with darkness.

Like it or not, once we choose to follow the Light we must separate ourselves from those who choose not to.

This doesn’t make us separatist, it makes us sanctified.

The Holy Spirit used that illumination to flash in neon lights, God sent the Light of the world to separate His chosen people from darkness!

It should be pointed out that the darkness separation is in this life and for eternity.

Genesis 1:3 also associates God’s speaking with light’s existence. That means light’s origin is God’s spoken word.

Don’t miss that where we see God’s light, we hear His voice.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) illustrates…
[9] But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Notice the author says we’re…

• Called out, or separated from darkness
• Brought into HIS wonderful light.

God wants us to hear His voice and see and His Light, which is Jesus.

Recently I heard 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT) for the first time, which says…
[6] For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Here are the dots, when we see Jesus the Light of the world, we see God the Father too. Recall John 14:9 (NLT) says…
[9] Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

Jesus is the Light that shows and leads us to God!

That’s the main message the Holy Spirit wanted highlighted today, to see and follow the Jesus the Light of world that separates us from the darkness of sin and death into God’s marvelous light and eternal life!

As we reflect on God’s indescribable gift this Christmas, let’s make a point to see He’s the Light that brings eternal life. And let’s not stop there, indeed let’s answer God’s call out of darkness into His wonderful Light.

Today’s song is…
Light Of World

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)