Isaiah 9:2 he people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

This passage came up a few weeks ago, because the theme of our readings was Light, but at that point I wrote, and actually preached, on verse 6. With this verse, it’s interesting to note that the Japanese puts it into present tense, in terms of the light. Some translations say “a land of deep darkness,” but I think that’s a very unfortunate translation. The Japanese says “a land of the shadow of death.” Apart from the promise of eternal life in Christ, all mankind lives under the shadow of death even today. “Someday I will die” is a thought most people try to dismiss, but it’s unavoidable for us all. That’s why the light of Christ is so incredible: properly received, it totally dissipates the shadow of death! Darkness is negative, however heavy and oppressive it might feel. The only solution is to add light. The same thing applies to cold. You can’t generate cold, you can only subtract heat. The devil is all about negatives, but God is totally positive! This is why the New Testament says so much about light, from the first chapter of John on through Jesus saying both that He was the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5) and that believers are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) Light is liberating, enabling us to move freely because we see and discern obstacles. Hebrews uses that image, saying that Jesus came to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:15) To go back to what Jesus said, we aren’t the source of the light, but we are to be “fiber optics” to transmit the light of Christ to those around us, freeing them too from the shadow of death. When we are turned toward the light, light is what we see, but when we are turned away, we see our own shadow. Spiritual growth is recognizing the light and staying turned toward it more and more consistently. If we will do that, then indeed, our light will shine, and people will give glory to God. (Matthew 5:16)

I’m preaching to myself here! The busyness of the season tends to get me down, which is ironic, I know. That just shows that I’m too focused on myself and my circumstances, and not enough on my Lord, the “reason for the season,” as the saying goes. There are many things I have to do as a pastor, particularly as one of a very small congregation, where I have few people to whom things can be delegated. I need to have God’s wisdom to know who is to do what, and to remember that I can indeed do everything He asks of me, through His strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Father, thank You for all You enabled me to do yesterday, and for all You have on my schedule for today. Help me do everything, with joy, as unto You, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!