ESOCS Devotional 25 December 2023 – Out of the Darkness
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
TEXT: ISAIAH 9:2-7 (KJV)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.
3 You [O Lord] have multiplied the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before You like the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil [of battle].
4 For the yoke of [Israel’s] burden, and the staff or rod for [goading] their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, You have broken as in the day of [Gideon with] Midian.
5 For every [tramping] warrior’s war boots and all his armor in the battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Have you ever been in pitch-black darkness where you couldn’t see anything? If you tried to move about, you may have stumbled or injured yourself. Natural darkness is difficult, but spiritual darkness is a greater challenge. God saw humanity’s situation and did not want to leave us trapped in our sins. The Darkness is real, powerful and persistent and it’s not something that’ll go away if we just ignore it. The worst thing about the Darkness is that Satan is the Evil One behind it and he has list of ways to keep you in the dark.
Satan’s greatest weapon for keeping us in the dark though is Sin; the Sin which permeates all of our lives. He loves the Darkness that falls over us when the sins of others are inflicted upon us. He loves it too when we know what we’re doing, when we commit that hated sin, and then when we’re overpowered by the blackness of guilt and regret. The darkness of Sin is truly the blackest.
When Isaiah says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,” he is saying that this Child is born and given to you! The Child isn’t given in some general way, nor is the Child given for some and not for others. But this Child, this Son of God, is yours! You can look upon His face and know that it’s true; hope and help have come to you.
He sent His Son Jesus, who said, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). Saint John puts it this way, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” He is the Light of the World and He has come to give you hope and life and peace. The Darkness of Sin and the Devil, the Darkness of Sorrow and Pain are put to flight by the Light that shines in the darkened stable.
God is calling us to come out of darkness into His marvelous light. This light brings the promise of hope, joy and eternal life. We no longer need to walk in the darkness of sin, for His light has power to change us! Remember – God’s light is always more powerful than the darkness.
- What way can you ensure that Satan does not keep you in darkness?
- Father, thank You for loving me so much by calling me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Grant me grace to always walk in the light, amen.
FURTHER READING: Luke 2:1-21; 7:15–25; I John 4:7–21
ESOCS Devotional 25 December 2023
