This is the first devotional for the week of April 23 through April 26. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.
Seeing the Light
"On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2
Isaiah 9:2
On
the streets of Los Angeles, a homeless man struggling with addictions
stepped into The Midnight Mission and asked for help. Thus began Brian’s
long road to recovery.
In the process Brian rediscovered his love for music. Eventually he joined Street Symphony—a group of music professionals with a heart for the homeless. They asked Brian to perform a solo from Handel’s Messiah known as “The People That Walked in Darkness.” In words written by the prophet Isaiah during a dark period of Israel’s history, he sang, “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 kjv). A music critic for The New Yorker magazine wrote that Brian “made the text sound as though it had been taken from his own life.”
The gospel writer Matthew quoted that same passage. Called by Jesus from a life of cheating his fellow Israelites, Matthew describes how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by taking His salvation “beyond the Jordan” to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:13–15).
Who would have believed one of Caesar’s tax collector thugs (see Matthew 9:9), a street addict like Brian, or people like us would get a chance to show the difference between light and darkness in our own lives?
In the process Brian rediscovered his love for music. Eventually he joined Street Symphony—a group of music professionals with a heart for the homeless. They asked Brian to perform a solo from Handel’s Messiah known as “The People That Walked in Darkness.” In words written by the prophet Isaiah during a dark period of Israel’s history, he sang, “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 kjv). A music critic for The New Yorker magazine wrote that Brian “made the text sound as though it had been taken from his own life.”
The gospel writer Matthew quoted that same passage. Called by Jesus from a life of cheating his fellow Israelites, Matthew describes how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by taking His salvation “beyond the Jordan” to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:13–15).
Who would have believed one of Caesar’s tax collector thugs (see Matthew 9:9), a street addict like Brian, or people like us would get a chance to show the difference between light and darkness in our own lives?
Today's Reflection
How has the light of Christ affected you? In what ways are you reflecting it to others?
What a redemptive story, I love hearing outcomes like this. God is so mighty, and if we all looked closer into each of our lives we would see that everyone has a past and sin. But the redemptive part of this, is that God can come in and transform our lives. Hearing about a homeless man who struggled with addiction and then got off the streets and started the band- what a testimony to a new journey.
ReplyDeleteThis story reminds us to be so careful... God's light can shine through anyone, anywhere! If we allow ourselves to be open to receiving it, we can then, in turn, reflect it more brightly. Lord help us to do so!
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful for the opportunity to follow Christ and seek His righteousness. We have many other options in the world. Things could have turned out much differently were it not for the Lord.
ReplyDeleteSo encouraging to hear of those who would be considered hopeless in the world's estimation are miraculously transformed when the Lord's grace descends upon them. If only this could be true of the majority rather a minority of cases. One can only pray and get involved to hopefully have more miracles such as this one. Loved the example of Handel's Messiah serving as a focal point of the story.
ReplyDeleteIncredible and hope filled story of redemption. It shows us that it is never too late. I have family members who have heard the gospel and choose not to believe. It can be discouraging and it sometimes feels like it will never change. Stories like this one remind me that you cannot force these things, the person has to be ready, so we should all keep at the ready to share the good news and help where we can.
ReplyDelete