1 Peter 2:4-10 (NASB)
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Those "in Christ" are reconstituted to resemble Him, being built up together as a spiritual house. They, as was true of Israel, are made as a priestly "nation," commissioned to minister to others. Those "in Christ" continue that commission to be a nation of priests, a holy people, set apart and transformed to be servants of the Living God. Out of darkness and into light to guide those still living in darkness.
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Ephesians 5:6-14 (NASB)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Being in Christ leads not just to a better future state, but affects the dramatic transformation of the present one. His followers can no longer interact with their former domain in the same way, having been removed from it and placed under the dominion of Jesus as King. This means living rightly and loving others. The Light exposes the Darkness and causes it to flee. Children of the Light must allow His Radiance to do the same in their own lives, and thus become conformed to His Image. "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." John 12:35-36 (NASB)
35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” The True Light from heaven came to set the earth aright, to guide her with His Light, to deliver from her plight. The Light Himself had to pass through the darkness, through sadness, through Death. But as her guide, the Light showed the way forward, to victory, to freedom, to joy. In following, through Death she too must pass, though passing with hope, for the Life of this Light awaits her. Psalm 119:105-106 (NASB)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances. The message of God gives guidance to his people, directing their behavior and leading them into obedient faithfulness. This message in its fullness speaks of Jesus and his reign over creation. The Word of God, the Light of the world, our Deliverer and our Guide through the journey of life. Psalm 27:1-4 (NASB)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. The psalmist declares he has no need to fear for the Lord is his deliverance, protection, and guidance. He is confidence in the protection of the Lord against his enemies, and seeks above all to live in the presence of God and to gaze on his beauty. Isaiah's Servant (Isa 53), however, was said to possess no beauty or majesty by which people would be attracted to him. According to Matthew, among others, Jesus fulfills the Servant's calling to bring healing to God's people (Matt 8:17), and Philip likewise understood this passage to teach about Jesus (Acts 8:32-35). God's presence no longer was confined to the temple, but was revealed to the whole world in Jesus, God-made-flesh. Psalm 43:3-5 (NASB)
3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. The psalmist pleaded for God to deliver him from his enemies and to restore him to the very presence of God. It is the light of God which he asks to direct his steps and lead him to God's mountain. It is not the mountain, however, which the psalmist longs for, but God's presence which he might find there. God is his hope and his cause for praise even amidst his trials. The psalmist's plea echoes forth in the declaration of John that the Light has indeed come to guide humanity into the faithful and glorious presence of God. Romans 15:4-13 (NASB)
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The unity of God's people comes only through their adoption of the humility of Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. Humility, Paul argues, is a necessity for Gentiles who have been brought into God's family as outsiders. Gratitude and thanks should mark their attitude for the work which God has done through Jesus for them. Isaiah 6 (NASB)
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” God commissioned the prophet as a testimony against the people. Their hardness had closed them off from the life of God. The prophets words would not undo this rebellion but would reinforce it, testifying to the truth of God even amidst the turmoil which was coming. Jesus himself recast these words in his ministry to depict the importance of proper response to God (Matthew 13). It is those who hear and heed God's message who truly please Him. Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NASB)
14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it[c] will be called:The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’ In the agony of the exile, the prophet did not leave Israel without hope. God's message was that, in spite of the destruction to come, He would restore His people and heal their land. It was the Messiah who would accomplish this restoration for God's people, bringing justice, peace, and rightness to the world. As we await the fullness of the kingdom of God and His Messiah Jesus, we too hold to the words of the prophet and anticipate the days when Peace reigns over the earth. John 1:6-9 (NASB)
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John prepared the way of the Light to come into the world. This Light-for-the-world, for the whole world, for everyone, was foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah who spoke of Jerusalem's restoration after the exile, saying; "A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:3-5). This voice prepared the coming of the glory of God, of God Himself. "See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:10-11). Christ came as God's presence, God's glory, coming to set things right among His people and within the world. |
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