Arise, Shine: Gospel Today Devotional - 9th January, 2024

When a person isn't aware of the strength that lies inside him to do a particular thing, he would continue to do that which he has always been doing except by some chance he gets to discover about himself what he has. Take for instance, someone has about #500 in his pocket, and he was asked to get himself something by the one who kept the money in his pocket. Here is someone who doesn't know that he has such an amount being asked to get something for himself, do you think he would actually be able to do that except he is aware? The answer is no. His ability to buy something for himself lies in the fact that he knows he has the money to do so.

Arise, Shine: Gospel Today Devotional - 9th January, 2024

Let's take another illustration quickly.  If a child falls to the ground for instance, and maybe he was with his father when it happened, what do you think such a child would expect the father to do? He would expect the father to stretch forth his hand so as to raise him up, right? And what if the father says to the child, arise, son? Do you think the child will be able to? It depends actually, how? Knowledge. If the child is aware of the fact that he can actually do what his father instructs, then he will arise, but if not, he would remain there. 

The knowledge therefore of his ability to do as he has been instructed is that which is responsible for his rising. These illustrations are to create a picture of that which we shall be considering today, and I trust that the Lord would bless you through his word even as you read through. The passage of scripture under consideration is seen below,

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee". (Isaiah 60:1).

Here we see certain instructions that were given, and in our context today, we would say that the passage of scripture is being addressed to believers. Hallelujah. First, it says to 'arise', praise God. This implies that many have been sleeping, many have been ignorant of that which lies on the inside of them. Many more are busy leaving their lives in isolation, and to all he gives this urgent instruction; that they all should 'arise'. The question however is this, what should they arise to do? One thing about God, and his word is that it doesn't leave anyone confused. 

The scripture gives an answer to that with another instruction, 'shine'. For the first instruction, he calls out to those who are yet to arise, and for the second, he calls out to those who have risen but are not shining forth as light. He has given the instruction, and ours is to obey just as we've been instructed. Glory to God. You see, there are many who would see this, and say, but we have no light, we have no strength. How shall we arise, and shine? That's not true. How do I mean? The scripture says you have the light, and in fact, your light has come, and not just that, but the glory (splendour) of the Lord has risen upon you. So you have the light, and you have the strength. It's just that you were not aware of it till this very moment, but glory to his name for you're now aware. Praise God.

Please note, until you respond to this instruction, nothing would happen. You know why you need to arise? Because until you arise, you will not shine, and if you do not shine the light in you, men will not see your good works so as to give glory to God (Matthew 5:16). Now you know why you have to arise, and shine, right? So that God will be glorified on earth as he is in heaven, and so that men through you would come to know him. Enough of the sleeping, enough of the contradicting lifestyle, enough of that thought that you cannot arise. Enough of it. If God would be glorified on the earth, then as believers, we need to arise, and shine, and do remember that we are the light of the world. The Lord help us all in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Thought for the Day

If God would be glorified on the earth, then you need to arise, and shine. Only then can men see God in you, and glorify his name.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].

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