The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Isaiah 9:2
Children have a lot of energy.
That's not a revelation to any of us. Years ago, I heard of how an Olympic athlete was asked to duplicate, on a comparable scale, all the things a little child does. According to the story, the athlete lasted about two hours before collapsing in exhaustion.
I don't know if that story is true, but I do know children do have almost limitless energy.
The energy of children is what a young inventor, Daniel Sheridan, hopes to harness.
Daniel has created a simple seesaw which, in ten minutes of use, can generate enough electricity to light a school classroom for an entire evening. Daniel hopes to come up with a battery of playground toys that can do the same thing.
If Daniel manages to pull this off, it will make a tremendous difference to the education programs of many places in Africa. There, in numerous remote regions, schools are closed down at night because there is no power to illuminate classrooms for the many adults who would willingly attend night classes.
When I read David's story in an article carried last week by the BBC, I thought, "What a difference it makes when people are able to live in the light."
It's a difference we don't always appreciate. Even so, it's true. The light changes everything.
That's what Isaiah was trying to convey when he was moved to prophesy about the light that comes to us in Jesus. Because of Jesus, we who were once stumbling around in the darkness are given the light to see the dangers that surround us. Because of Jesus, the Lord's route before us can be clearly seen.
Because of Jesus, we live in the light. Because of the Savior we no longer need to feel lonely or lost, depressed, or discouraged. Jesus brings light; we are forgiven and redeemed, and the darkness of death and the devil has been dissipated.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, there was a time when sin, death, and Satan kept all of humanity living in darkness. I am so thankful that You came to bring light into this world. I give thanks that You ARE the light who illuminates the darkness and shows us our way. In Your Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 23-25 Luke 6:27-49
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