Sunday, 2 June 2024
THE LIGHT OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:15)
In Matthew 5:14 NKJV, the Lord Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” It bears comparison to what we read in our opening scripture. In Isaiah 60:2, the prophet prophesied, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
In Christ Jesus, the glory of the Lord is resident in us, so much so that the Word declares that we are His glory! We’re the light of His righteousness in a dark and cynical world. Hallelujah! It makes no difference what the darkness and problems in the world are; you’re the hope and the solution that the world needs.
The Lord Jesus said in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 1 John 4:17 says, “…as he is, so are we in this world.” The problems and hardships in the world today are your opportunities to shine and manifest the glory and light of His righteousness.
As long as you’re in the world, you’re the light of the world. Light gives direction. You’re the one to show the world how to live, what to do, and how to be successful in the midst of the darkness. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Again, it brings to mind the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). Yes, through you, they’re seeing this great light. That’s your ministry — to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18).
There’s no greater light than the light of His righteousness and we’re the bearers of His righteousness — taking the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Praise God!
CONFESSION: I’m the bearer of God’s righteousness — taking the light of the Gospel, which has been committed to my trust, to the ends of the earth. Through me, many are turned from darkness to light and catapulted into their inheritance in the Kingdom of Light. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 26:16-18; Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15-16
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 17:1-26 & 1 Chronicles 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:11-19 & Proverbs 29