Light in a Dark Place

  I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. – Isaiah 49:6

Soren Kierkegaard was a 19th-century Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic, and author. Though one may disagree with some of what he wrote, he may have been correct when he said, “Christian truth itself has eyes to see with. In fact, it is all eye. That’s very disquieting. Think of looking at a painting and discovering that the painting was looking at you. Precisely such is the case with Christian truth. It is looking back at me to see whether I do what it says I should do.”

Isaiah 49 is known as one of the Servant’s Songs, basically a message from the pre-incarnate Jesus. He was calling the people of Israel to listen to Him, just as He called the Jews when he came to Earth as the Messiah… and as He calls today. The early Jewish people often failed to listen, many of the people of the first century did not heed His words, and much of the world rejects Him today. Yet Jesus still calls to people, offering salvation and healing.

In Acts 3, Peter told the nation of Israel they had rejected God’s servant in ignorance. He said, “Repent and return.” Peter assured them that God would restore all things when Jesus returns. Later, Paul would tell Christians in Asia Minor that, although people had rejected Jesus, who is the Light of the World, God had made Paul and his fellow missionary Barnabas “lights for the Gentiles,” quoting from Isaiah 49.

God continues restoring all things to Himself as the time of Christ’s return draws nearer. Are you part of spreading the word of His restoration and of Jesus’ coming? Are you the light in a dark place that He has called you to be? You are a representative of Christ on this earth. Ask the Lord to guide you in being His servant, part of His saving message of restoration. Pray for believers serving in Congress to not “hide their lights under baskets” but to be faithful witnesses to the Lord’s call.

Today’s Verse: Isaiah 49:6

he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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