Light that Rises in the Darkness

I can't say enough about this most recent 24-hour reading of the book of Isaiah. Reading it all together really helps put it all into context. With that in mind, these little snippets won't have that. So, if you are up for it, read the whole book of Isaiah over the course of the next few days. Let me know if you have questions, too. You'll need some time for it to sink in...

All over Isaiah there is mention of light - tying in with Matthew 5 from Sunday. The light is often in reference to Jesus the Christ (the Messiah), but it also transfers to us as His people. What I want to share today is from Isaiah 58. Read it in various translations to help you really get the just of it. Basically, God has an issue with His people, for they have gone through the motions but they are not living lives that glorify Him. The specific issue is fasting. But here's what I want to point out.

1) Look at God's issue with His people (vv 1-5). They don't get it. They think everything is fine. Now think of the application today - there are so many people who call themselves Christians who "go to church and give a little and even fast and pray", but not with their whole hearts or lives. Basically, it boils down to the fact that we are not doing what God wants us to do - and with the right heart! We've lost sight of the fact that we are SALT to the world, that we should definitively impact or influence the world with each and every touch. (think about adultery, divorce, alcoholism, porn - how can we be SALT when we are no different)

Any thoughts on this?

2) Look at verses 6-14. God lays out what His idea of a fast is all about - vv. 6-7. And then He gives the result - and what a result it is! He says when you do this, "THEN shall your light break forth like the dawn...". Another result is found in v. 9, and then come the "ifs" and another result. God says, "If you do this..." (v 9-10), "THEN shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday."

We are the LIGHT of the world. And God has laid out for us how to let this light shine. Let's start to take God seriously and truly live our lives in His way and for His glory - and guess what - our light will begin to shine forth onto our community and impact our world! God guarantees it!

Let me know your thoughts on all of this. Any comments - struggles - etc?

Posted on Tue, February 2, 2010 by Jonathan Goeke

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3 comments (Add your own)

1. Jo Stallings wrote:: I agree that we are no different from everyone in the world and inf fact we let the world influence us. We no longer are shocked when we hear God's name taken in vain because of TV and movies and other media. It is thrown in our face if we dont isolate ourselves totally. But then if we isolate ourselves we cannot be the light that Isaiah talks about. dilemma?

Talking about our hours - I am helping with ESL 2 night a week for one hour each. We read and sing the psalms and the Lord's Prayer but I dont know if I truly do it with the right heart. Like it says in v 3 I do some right things but end up doing wrong things - bickering and not showing love and compassion as I should - so where does that put me? I pray but sometimes it is going through the motions. I read my Bible but do I wait for God to speak to me through that Word? Some times - no.

Thanks for the sermon on Sunday and I did not think it was long at all.
Tue, February 2, 2010 @ 5:13 PM
2. PJ wrote:: Great thoughts - and I love that you are thinking about this!

First - is it a dilemma? I don't think so. A godly tension maybe, but not a dilemma. This is especially true if "dilemma" means a difficult choice between two equally undesirable alternatives (one of its definitions). But even the definition, "a problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution", isn't true. There is an answer - and a good one. God has called us to be holy - and holy actually means separate, or "set apart". This is exactly what we are called to be. We don't do that by going to live in the desert by ourselves and running away from the world - but we must do a better job of being separate and holy - and as Luther said, "being in the world but not of the world." It's ok if the world sees us and we look different. Don't wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, give in to the same greed, have the same priorities. We are called to be different.

In response to your second question, "where does that put me", I'd say this. In the same place as me and the rest of the Christian Church. It should put us on our knees. That's what Isaiah was all about. It was calling the people of God to repent and return to the Lord. To ask for forgiveness and to put their faith and trust in Him. Also to ask for a change of heart.

Let's keep seeking the Lord together - and I pray that as we do, His name is honored, glorified and lifted up!
Wed, February 3, 2010 @ 2:13 PM
3. Chris wrote:: The God speaking in Isaiah isn't the wishy-washy version of God that we tend to worship in our churches today. The "God" we worship today would have looked at the people of Isaiah's day and said "Well hey, at least you're going to church and (sometimes) singing the songs and occasionally tithing. I'd prefer it if you were totally transformed and loving Me with all of who you are and repenting of sin and doing something about poverty and injustice and living differently than the world....but I realize no one's perfect, so no big deal. I'll just send my Son to die for you and you can just go on living however you want for the most part, just so long as you get communion and ask for forgiveness once in a while and keep going to church."

I really think that's what we've made God out to be. That version of God feels way more convenient to us. I know I sometimes have a hard time of getting out of this kind of mentality about God, and seeing that God demands - and is completely worthy of - my whole-hearted, whole-being-ed devotion. God is always right (surprise!) and living completely for God and following His ways in every area of life really is Best!
Thu, February 4, 2010 @ 9:38 AM

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