December 23, 2024

Shining Into the Darkness

luke1.78-79adventlight

Because of God’s tender mercy,
the Morning Light from Heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

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Luke 1:78-79 resonates loudly with me.  The part about “…to give light to those who sit in darkness…and to guide us to the path of peace,” hits home.  It reminds me to be so thankful for what God has done for me.

Without His “tender mercy” I don’t know where I would be.  Would my suicidal thoughts have gotten the best of me?  There are so many people that I would not have gotten to meet.  How different would their lives be? And my family’s?

Without Christ and the Holy Spirit I would be lost and possibly not alive, but thank God that He does not let leave us in darkness.  God never intended for us to dwell in darkness.  Any situation that is dark or detrimental to one’s mental or emotional well-being, or anything that is just dark—is not of God.  Jesus came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

God may find us in the darkness—we may find our way there or life may just be plain mean to us—but God never wants us to stay there. God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, to die for you and I.  He loves us this much!  And if He loves us this much, what makes you think that He doesn’t love us enough to want us to live in His light?  Don’t dwell in darkness unnecessarily.  God has made a way in, so that we can find a way out.

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Lord, thank You for the lighted path that you have provided and thank You for never wanting us to dwell in darkness.  Help me to never forget that when I can’t find my way, and it seems You are not near, that You ARE always near.  Always.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Peace Which Passes All Understanding

SHpeaceluke1

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

This peace I am talking about involves a firm conviction that Jesus is near and that God’s love will be active in our lives for good (Romans 8:28, 32).  How do I prove this sentence?

God gave us His only begotten Son, and allowed Him to die on the Cross for us—what a loving God He is!  He saw that with the all the sin around us, we are not at peace.  Sin robs us of peace but righteousness bring joy and peace in our hearts always.

What does this peace of God do in our lives?

  • When we call on God from hearts that remain in Christ and His Word, then God’s peace will flood our troubled souls.  Are you troubled?  Then please allow the peace of God to be present in you through Christ our Lord.
  • It is as an inner reality mediated by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15-16). And we all know that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Comforter, etc.  Therefore we can rest assured that through the Holy Spirit’s mediation we are going to be at peace even in times of the roughest storms and raging wars.
  • This peace is going to stand guard at the door of our hearts and mind, preventing the cares and worries of this life which undermine our hope in Christ.
  • If fear and anxiety does return, than through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving we will once again be placed us under the peace of God that guards our hearts.
  • It makes us feel safe and rejoice in the Lord.

The Lord gives us peace, good friends.  I therefore pray to God for you that He would turn His face toward you and give you peace.  We need peace in all areas of our lives (Numbers 6:26).  Others are thinking how will they pay their bills; and God has sent me today to tell you that He is making a covenant of peace with you (Numbers 25:12). And a heart at peace gives life to the body (Proverbs 14:30).

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Lord, I thank You for the peace that passes all understanding.  I thank You for the peace I have within me that is moving me from one level of glory to the other.  I really appreciate You, Abba Father, for this is not only unto me it is also to my friends who are reading this devotion.  May You give us the grace of increased faith in You which will bring peace into our hearts.  May our hope be in You as You are PEACE Yourself, Lord.  Blessed be Your name now and forever more.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!!!