Today’s Scripture: Matthew 4:16, NKJV- “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
Have you seen the great light of God? God’s great light is best seen and recognized as it bursts from darkness. I once did an exercise where an author took me through an exercise that she had experienced. This was somewhat metaphysical but a vision I could never unsee. In my mind’s eye, I traveled through the darkness of space.
In the total darkness, a pin hole of light appeared and as I approached it rapidly, I burst into a great light. I experienced seeing and receiving the light of God. Does this sound unreal? It was not and even today as I pray many times I burst into that light where I feel God’s light pierce through all of me.
Reading Matthew 3:16 regarding Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, I could imagine God’s great light as the words state “At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (NIV) I realized, at that moment, Jesus opened the heavens for us. The Spirit of God descended like a dove on Him. The heavens are still opened, and the Spirit of God is upon us.
The Spirit then led Jesus into the wilderness. The Spirit continues to lead us today. In the solitude and darkness of prayer we can see a great light as we look to and welcome God’s kingdom and will. This is not too cosmic for us to experience. It may be overly simplified, but heaven is still open to us, The Spirit is upon us and in us, and the great light of God still dawns in our lives.
We continue to face challenges from evil. Matthew 4 begins with Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. We may not be understanding where the Spirit is leading us. We do face evil. Yet through it all the Spirit of God is with us. As Jesus taught us in Matthew 4:4, we can still protect and prepare ourselves against the devil and all evil by realizing and practicing living on every word that comes from the mouth of God. “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (NLT)
As we look to God and His Word the heavens are opened to us and we see a great light. In this light we can always turn. As we face evil, we can look to the light of God, cling to His every word as Jesus came to teach us to do. As Matthew 4:10 states, “Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
When we worship the LORD our God and look to only serve Him, He still opens the heavens, His Spirit still lights up our darkness, and He still leads us to serve Him. I am thankful I have seen and experienced God’s great light. I am thankful He makes it available to us. Most times, our world must be very dark before we see and recognize God’s great light. Will You look to God’s light, so His Spirit descends on you?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for opening Your heavens for Jesus and for us. I am welcoming Your Spirit and Your great light. Help me to live on every word that comes from Your mouth LORD. Please grant me the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the armor of Your Word to prepare and protect me. Thank You for allowing us to see Your light and to receive Your Spirit. Thank You for Your bread of life and Your promise of light in the darkness of humanity. Amen.
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