Send the Light!

Daily Reading: Acts 22

And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. (Acts 22.11-13)

Devotional Thought: Millions are walking in darkness.  What must happen for them to see the light of God's love?  In Paul’s experience on the road, we see at least three things:

·       Jesus himself must shine into the darkness.  Only Jesus could break through the dark shroud of Paul's anger and hatred.  Without Jesus’ light shining into the hearts of people, there is no way that they can understand and believe spiritual truth.  Pray for Jesus to shine his light into darkness and his hope into despair.

·       People may be blinded by the light of Jesus.  When people are so far gone in darkness and sin, the light is scary to them.  It is hard to accept.  Paul was like that.  God had a plan for Paul to get to Damascus where Ananias would share with him the truth of Jesus.  That involved other people leading him by the hand.  Will you be one of those people?

·       God uses ordinary Christians to help people understand the light.  Ananias is not presented as a specially endowed Christian.  He was just an “ordinary” disciple of Jesus.  He prayed.  He read the Word.  He was aware of his world.  He was sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  The key was the fact that Ananias was willing to share the light.  Even in our ordinariness, God will use us when we are willing and obedient.

Do you know someone who is blinded by the darkness?  Blinded by the light?  Pray for them. Invite them.  Bring the Light to them.

Prayer: Lord, help me to fulfill the words of that old hymn: "Send the light, the blessed gospel light; Let it shine from shore to shore! Send the light the blessed gospel light; Let it shine forevermore!"  Amen. (Charles Gabriel)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78.32-39

"In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again."