Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

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

Not so many years ago a Sunday school teacher asked her class to memorize that passage. She asked, but it soon became apparent that nobody took her seriously.

The following week -- the week the class was to recite the passage -- she asked for volunteers. No hands went up.

Thinking they just needed to have their memories jogged a bit, the teacher started out: "The people ..." Nobody jumped in. The teacher added a few more words, then a few more. Finally, she had given her students half the passage: "The people who walked in darkness ..."
It was only then that the hands started going up. With a sigh of relief the teacher called on her first student who said, "The people walking in the darkness ... use less electricity." Teacher said that wasn't right.

The next student said, "The people who walked in the darkness ... stubbed their toes on the coffee table." That wasn't quite it, either.

Yet another in her class volunteered: "The people who walked in the darkness ... could really use a flashlight."

Just as the teacher was thinking about taking early retirement, one of the students got it: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

As you may have guessed, that story is just that: a story. Even so, it's a story which illustrates a truth. In His Holy Word, God is quite clear in saying His Son, Jesus Christ, is the only way we can be saved. Through faith in Him who gave His life so we might have life, we who once were in darkness are brought into the light.

The fact you subscribed to these Daily Devotions and are actually reading them, says you are one of those ex-darkness people. The Holy Spirit has already given you a faith in the Christ who was crucified and has risen. For you a light has dawned.

But the truth is there are so many more. There are many more who are still stumbling around in the darkness. It is for them that Lutheran Hour Ministries exists as we Bring Christ to the Nations. It is for them, at least in part, that your local congregation proclaims the Word of God. Like the Lord, we want to see the crowd that is standing in the light to grow.

Indeed, we pray today that all the world be brought out of the darkness into the marvelous light which is and comes from Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for my faith I give thanks. Because of it I have been granted forgiveness and salvation. But I pray for those who are still enslaved in the darkness. Send Your Holy Spirit so hearts may be changed and souls might see and believe in the Savior. In His Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 67, 71    Philippians 2

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