Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

This is a dearly loved verse, and as a matter of fact we have it on a banner hanging in our sanctuary. However, it’s still worthy of meditation. The Japanese is slightly different, saying, “your light comes,” rather than “has come.” I really don’t know the Hebrew treatment of tenses, so I don’t know which is more appropriate. Either way, the message is clear: God’s glory is going to light things up! Life on this earth can seem very dark at times, and this is approaching the physically darkest time of the year. However, those factors are irrelevant in light of God’s glory. (This is one time when that expression is perfectly appropriate!) As Jesus said clearly, in this world we will have trouble, (John 16:33) but when our hearts are fixed on God, all of that fades into insignificance. It is all a matter of focus. In this Christmas season the devil and the world work overtime to try to get us to focus on consumerism, with Black Friday as the kickoff, and we are inundated with advertising. That can get really dark, spiritually and emotionally, so the answer is praising God and resting in His glory, which is bright indeed.

This is extremely timely and pointed for me, because my wife and I were recognizing just yesterday that we were in “survival mode” because of the stresses of the season. That’s not focusing on God! Shifting our focus doesn’t change the various things we need to do, but it does change our experience of them. As one of our daughters was exhorting us to do, on a video call yesterday morning, we need to recognize God’s grace to us and be grateful. When I got up in the night my balance was so bad I had trouble making it to the bathroom, and then almost fell down on the way back. I lay there in bed a while, with thoughts of what it would be like if I were unable to drive because of dizziness, and then chose to submit it to God and thank Him. When it was time to get up, my balance was fine! This is something I’ve told others to do countless times – which is probably why my daughter echoed it back to me! I will indeed make it through the next three weeks, and there will be many blessings along the way. As John told us in his first letter, (1 John 1:7) I need to walk in the light that God has provided in abundance, if I will only perceive it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ll probably need it again before the new year! Help me indeed overflow with gratitude and praise, as You certainly deserve, for the blessing of those around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!