December 3rd

December 3: Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah 9:2-7  (NIV)

The people walking in darkness

   have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

   a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

   and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

   as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

   when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

   you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

   the bar across their shoulders,

   the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle

   and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

   will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

   to us a son is given,

   and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

   there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

   and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

   with justice and righteousness

   from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

   will accomplish this.

Reflection

Late in Paul’s ministry, he was arrested and put on trial as found in Acts 26. While there, he was given a chance to share his testimony. This was literally a testimony in a court of law, but it also served as his testimony in the way many Christians talk about “giving your testimony.” It was his story about what God had done in his life. During this story, he recounted his journey to Damascus where he met Jesus. On this Journey, Paul was made blind and later received his actual sight when he received salvation and forgiveness—his spiritual sight.

This adds even more weight to how he told the court about his experience. He said that when he encountered Jesus on the road, Jesus said, “I am sending you [Paul] to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins.” Paul’s mission, like Jesus’ mission and like ours, was to help each other move from darkness to light. This mission goes all the way back to the prophet Isaiah, thousands of years before Jesus or Paul. The need is simple: we tend to not see what we should see. We’re blind.

What have you been missing? What should you notice more? What about God, your life, your family, or your community has gone unnoticed? How might you open your eyes and see again?

Prayer

God, the One who gives sight to the blind, help us to not go through life without seeing the world the way you do. Open our eyes, so that we might see.