ESOCS Devotional 25 December 2024 – A Great Light
MEMORY VERSE: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”Isaiah 9: 2 KJV
TEXT: ISAIAH 9:2–7
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
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Darkness is more than the absence of sunlight. It is the symbol of uncertainty and hopelessness. A synonym for despair and unhealthy habits. It is the byproduct of the influence of Satan, and being bound by sin. It signifies being spiritually lost and making wrong decisions; being confused and traveling along the wrong paths; suffering from sicknesses, or being involved in unhealthy relationships that cast a shadow over their lives.
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would bring about a powerful transition for those who walk in darkness. Every kind of darkness. He would bring clarity to every puzzle, and solutions to every problem. He would relieve burdens and provide freedom from sin and despair. He would give direction and meaning, and enable them to escape the oppression of demonic forces.
Today, millions of people still “walk in darkness” – people in every country; people in families, neighbourhoods, and cities. The old and the young. Everyone from confident scholars to the illiterate. What is particularly tragic is that many do not realize that they are living in darkness. They may think that they see but in reality, they are spiritually blind.
Some are so accustomed to the “darkness” in which they live that they do not realize that anything else is possible. But everything changes when they “see a great light.” When God’s light shines in their hearts, they can see the truth, and everything suddenly becomes clearer. When they have an encounter with Jesus, the “light of the world” (John 8:12). When they realize that in God’s light they really do see light (Psalm 36:9).
So many people are lost today – lost in sin, lost in the hopelessness and darkness of a life without Christ. Many search for truth but find only lies; many seek hope but find only despair. They need to discover the light that is Jesus Christ, and they need someone to point them to it. This season, let’s look for people who need the light of Christ to shine in their lives and share the gospel, which brings light into our lives that they also will encounter the light and have reasons to celebrate because of the great light in Christ Jesus.
- Are you a witness to the light? Is your light shining through you each day?
- Lord, help us to share your light and love with those who are lost, in your name. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 9:2–7; Luke 2:1–21; Titus 2:22–3:7
ESOCS Devotional 25 December 2024
