Morning by Morning, November 18 - Increasing Contrast of the Light and
the Darkness before the Harvest
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me
with Your Spirit and lead me in Your ways, here at the start and throughout the
moments of my day. ...
“In their case the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do
not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your
slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of
darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
Your Word calls our spiritual
enemy “the god of this world” who “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” --
those who do not believe “the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God.” And “the god of this world” is at the source of the evil of this
world. You called him “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30). Bur Your Word
encourages us to not lose heart when we see his evil work of deception and
destruction, but to rise up in faith:
“Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary
the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast
in your faith...” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
One way we resist him, steadfast
in our faith, is by letting Your light shine in our hearts. Give us a love for
those who are deceived. Move us to intercede for them instead of condemn them,
that their eyes will be opened to the truth -- “the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Stir in our hearts to pray for those who
persecute us, to bless those who curse us, to love those who hate us (Matthew
5:44). Break the blindness from their minds to know the truth who will set them
free (John 8:32).
This is not a time to fear, but to
arise in faith. This is not a time to lose heart, but to be stirred in our
hearts to pray for great contrast between the light and the dark, between good
and evil, between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.
As You explained long ago, both
light and darkness, both good and evil, are all growing to full maturity at the
end of this age -- “to grow together until the harvest” (Matthew 13:24). Let us
be encouraged when we see these things coming of age in our day -- the time of
a great harvest is near! (Mathew 13:39)
You are “not wanting any to
perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). And You will use this
ever-increasing contrast of the light and the dark, the good and the evil, to
expose the deception of the ruler of this age so that all can see the truth and
know the One who is the truth -- “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John
14:6).
So give us Your harvest
perspective. Give us Your kingdom perspective. In the midst of this darkness,
as we hold fast to our faith and let the light of Your glory shine through our
faces and move powerfully through our prayers, “the righteous will shine like
the sun in the kingdom of (our) Father” (Matthew 13:43). In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
