The people...
Illustration
Object:
The people who walked in darkness are the outsiders who have no faith and are not the favored ones. They even question Jesus' origin: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Sometimes even us faithful Christians think that those who don't believe exactly as we do are those who are in darkness -- even fellow Christians. But as I often say, Jesus had only one bride, his church. He did not have a Methodist bride, a Baptist bride, a Lutheran bride, etc. We are all one in the Lord!
Even among those who are still outside, God is showing them a great light. My wife and I knew the first Christian in Nepal, and from that one man there are now over 2 million Christians there! The light has dawned there, and there is great rejoicing! What a harvest there and in other mission fields! Are we all contributing to that harvest by our giving to the church this Christmas season to show our gratitude?
This Christmas season reminds us that our burden has been lifted and our past troubles are only fuel for the fire. This should be the primary reason for rejoicing this season. It is not the prize under the tree, but the gift sent by God!
We must feel that the Lord is slow in acting. This passage says that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish all this, but we still lack righteousness and justice and we are still far from peace on earth! The thing we lack most seems to be patience and trust.
Even if we don't see the reign of God in all the world, we can feel it in our hearts. We can still have a peace that passes all understanding. We can be righteous and just in our dealings. We can be part of the "increase of his government" and not worry about what others are doing. The passage says that he will bring it about, so our job is to be faithful servants sharing the light that we have received from him.
The Old Testament reminds us not to forget what the Lord has done. The Israelites forgot what the Lord had done for them in the escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, and only seemed to remember their present captivity.
We often forget the light -- even at Christmas -- and think mainly of the darkness that God is sweeping away -- for others? We forget what God has done for us in our past and what He can and will do again. How can we forget the promise? A promise God kept! That should bring light in any darkness!
Even among those who are still outside, God is showing them a great light. My wife and I knew the first Christian in Nepal, and from that one man there are now over 2 million Christians there! The light has dawned there, and there is great rejoicing! What a harvest there and in other mission fields! Are we all contributing to that harvest by our giving to the church this Christmas season to show our gratitude?
This Christmas season reminds us that our burden has been lifted and our past troubles are only fuel for the fire. This should be the primary reason for rejoicing this season. It is not the prize under the tree, but the gift sent by God!
We must feel that the Lord is slow in acting. This passage says that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish all this, but we still lack righteousness and justice and we are still far from peace on earth! The thing we lack most seems to be patience and trust.
Even if we don't see the reign of God in all the world, we can feel it in our hearts. We can still have a peace that passes all understanding. We can be righteous and just in our dealings. We can be part of the "increase of his government" and not worry about what others are doing. The passage says that he will bring it about, so our job is to be faithful servants sharing the light that we have received from him.
The Old Testament reminds us not to forget what the Lord has done. The Israelites forgot what the Lord had done for them in the escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, and only seemed to remember their present captivity.
We often forget the light -- even at Christmas -- and think mainly of the darkness that God is sweeping away -- for others? We forget what God has done for us in our past and what He can and will do again. How can we forget the promise? A promise God kept! That should bring light in any darkness!
