One of my favorite times of day is the thirty minutes or so leading up to the sunrise. The first hints of a brightening sky tend to unfold in any number of ways. Some days, the sky is as an artist’s palette, with soft pinks and oranges spread in a magnificent array upon the clouds. Other times, the sun will approach the horizon with just a single, vertical shaft of brilliant light. Coupling these visual masterpieces with the spiritual peace and serenity that comes from prayer and meditation on God’s word makes the joy of life a tangible experience.
Whatever our situation or ability to view such wonders may be, we all need the Light of God to illuminate and instruct us in the things that are truly important to Him and beneficial to our own well-being. In this way, He directs us towards valuable and worthy things to pursue, and goals and achievements which lead to an eternal harvest.
The prophet Malachi wrote about this divine Light of the Spirit, which is available at any time or any place to those who seek Him.
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves. Malachi 4:2 (NKJV)
The word “fear” is used in the scriptural context of appreciation for a loving, all-powerful and awesome God, who, by faith in Christ, freely offers us an eternal life with Him. It is not about being literally terrified or afraid of God, but of having an attitude of reverent respect towards Him, and a sincere desire to obey the will of the Lord.
Scripture tells us that the harvest of a life lived in spiritual darkness is like stubble, worthy only to be trampled underfoot. Before the Light of God shined into our lives, we, too, were in ignorance and treading such a dangerous path. This all changed with the illumination of God. Though once held captive to sin and darkness, Christ lights our way, freeing us from sin’s shackles, so that we may break forth in freedom, like young calves bounding from their stalls into an open field.
John the Baptist’s father used similar imagery to Malachi in his prophetic prayer about the coming birth of Jesus:
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NASB)
Many of us believers once wandered aimlessly in the darkness. But by the grace of God, the Light of Christ has risen upon us, beginning a new day, and shining a beacon of hope and salvation into the lives of all who would reach out to Him in faith. Jesus will gladly grant all who turn to Him His full and divine blessing, with great benefit to all believers who thus become children of righteousness.
As Jesus walked throughout the land of Israel, His light shined upon believers wherever He went. As recorded about Jesus by the gospel writer, Matthew:
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:13-16 (ESV)
And from the gospel of John:
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)
The prophet Malachi wrote of the coming Sun of Righteousness, with healing in His wings. May we all look to Him as the new day breaks, being lifted up with joy as we journey together in the Light of the Lord.
Reflection
What is your favorite way to greet the day with God?
Father God, shine Your Light into all the dark corners of our lives to help us to remove everything that does not reverently honor You. We seek to walk in Your light wherever we go. Help us to be successful on our journey, bearing good fruit for heaven as we pursue Your will. May everything we do today be covered with the righteousness of Christ. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 