MERRY MONDAY – BY PARRIS BAILEY
“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79
It’s hard for an unbeliever to admit he is sitting in darkness. Jesus even said ” because you say you can see, you are blind”. Elliot said “it’s like the sunrise lighting up the path of those who had sat all night long in the dark ravine, and whose feet were now guided into “the way of peace”. I love the word being a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It keeps me from falling into the ditch. He gives us the ability to discern the darkness from the light.
Spurgeon describes our frame of mind without Christ. “The gloom is thick and dense; not sun, nor moon, nor star appeareth, and there can be no light to illumine the understanding, the affections, the conscience. Man has no power to get light. He may strike the damp match of reason, but it will not yield him a clear flame. The candle of superstition, with its tiny glare, will but expose the darkness in which he is wrapped. Rise, morning star! Come, Jesus, come! Thou art the sun of righteousness, and healing is beneath thy wings. Without Christ there is no light of true spiritual knowledge, no light of true spiritual enjoyment, no light in which the brightness of truth can be seen, or the warmth of fellowship proved. The soul, like the men of Napthali, sits in darkness, and seeth no light.”
Psalm 119 is filled with delighting with Gods word. When we are hit with darkness, doubt and destruction, Christ can bring illumination. I pray you can find a quiet place to brood over his word. The more you read the more he will pierce asunder your soul and spirit and discern your thoughts and intent. He will expose the darkness by his powerful light!
Spurgeon again speaks to the faint at heart . “Are any of you at this time bowing down under the shadow of death? Has hell gaped wide, and opened her jaws for you? Have you in your despair made a league with death, and a covenant with hell? Thus saith the Lord, “Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand;” for the Lord has come forth, and visited you in the person of his dear Son to deliver the captive.”
Open his word this morning and ask him to shine his grace upon you. He will guide your feet unto the way of peace. He has taken away your judgements and has come to shed his love upon you. The gospel is always good news!