Sunday: Darkness to Light
Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. How is the great controversy seen in these two verses?
These verses come from Exodus 19:6, “‘a kingdom of priests and a holy nation'” (NKJV); and Deuteronomy 7:6, (repeated in Deut. 14:2) “a holy people,” “chosen . . . to be a people for Himself,” and “a special treasure” (NKJV).
Image © Francesa Miller from GoodSalt.com
These assurances were, of course, given during the Exodus, when God’s people were being released from slavery and on the way to the Promised Land. Peter sees a parallel between the people of God during the Exodus and the church in his day.
Thus, Peter’s words are not a description of the end product but, rather, of a work in progress. Yes, we have been chosen and elected by Him, and we are to publicly praise God for bringing us out of the darkness that Satan has engulfed the world in. But that doesn’t make us perfect or mean that we have somehow arrived (see Phil. 3:12). On the contrary, awareness of our own sinfulness and shortcomings is a crucial aspect of what it means to follow Jesus and to sense our need for His righteousness in our own lives.
“It is thus that every sinner may come to Christ. ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.’ Titus 3:5. When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,-‘In my hand no price I bring;/ Simply to Thy cross I cling.'”-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 317.
One sure way we know that we have been called “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9, NKJV) is our awareness of just how dependent we are upon Christ, “who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30, NIV).
What goes through your head when you feel overwhelmed and discouraged by your deeds and even your own character? How do you deal with those thoughts when they come? How can you turn these times to your own spiritual advantage?
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As time goes on it is becoming more apparent that "gross darkness" is covering the people. (Isa 60:2.) The "glory" of this generation (it's preoccupation with information and technology etc.) is rapidly becoming it's "shame".
But the darkness - the ignorance, the gloom, and despair - becomes more and more "gross" (flagrant). There is a popular perception that we are the most informed generation that has ever lived, but I believe that the reality is really quite different.
In terms of the eternal realities that we are all facing, the world is rapidly retreating into darkness... and so many people are now calling it "light" (Isa 5:20).
So true Stewart. Jesus said it Himself "and this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).
I'm thankful for God assuring me that I can't make it without Him and knowing that He will never leave me.
To be in a state of "spiritual darkness" can be compared to someone who is physically blind, who is not affected by a power-cut during which the lights go out. The visually impaired is still able to go about is business as usual because he knows his way around the house or whatever building he may be accustomed to functioning in. That is his "normal". To the sighted we cannot even move from where we are in the house to light a candle or turn on a flashlight if there's no glimmer of light reflecting from a passing motor vehicle or from the moon or stars. We are just stuck until the power comes back and the lights come on.
Spiritual darkness renders us completely oblivious to spiritual things until, like Saul (Paul), we have an encounter with Jesus who is "the Light of the world" (John.8:12). The difference is that we cannot find our way if we continue to walk in darkness without God's word as a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path" (Ps. 119:105). Notwithstanding, we are not left alone to grope in the darkness for Jesus invites us to the "Way" out, the "Truth" to set us free and the "Life" abundant and eternal, but we must follow Him (Jn. 14:6).
For those of us who are privileged with physical vision, let it not be fulfilled on us Jesus' words in (Matt. 13:13-14) but let us take heed to the revelations God's has clearly given us in His word and the prophetic writings of His servant as well as other means He chooses to communicate His will and purpose and make them applicable to our lives. "There's none so blind as he who will not see", based on (Jer. 5:21).
Jesus has done all to redeem us out of the darkness that the evil one has dispersed on our planet but there's no need to remain therein. Let us therefore, "show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9) and made us a special people, chosen as royalty for we are children of the great and mighty King who reigns for ever.
Hymn for today:
Be Thou my vision, o Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my blessed thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Is this darkness creeping into the church? Every time I observe members' behavior towards spiritual things I have to ask this question.
Darkness does not need to overwhelm us if we know where to focus.
I am visually challenged. I have lost part of the sight in my left eye due to retinal detachment several years ago. I could be quite discouraged by this as there are some things that are now hard for me to do. For example, using binoculars. (which for a bird observer is quite an issue.) However I choose not to focus on the problems that I have with my sight and do my best to use the sight that I do have. That is one of the reasons I am a bird photographer.
There are those who focus on the dark things that happen to our church, but if that is our focus we often lose sight of Jesus. I am not saying that we should ignore what is happening in out church, but Jesus is still our light and if He is our focus, our ability to handle the darkness will be better for it.
David prays in Psalm (51:10)create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in me. He prays this prayer of his own free will. David was longing for spiritual renewal. Many of us in the church today are still in darkness. God has called us from darkness into His marvelous light, but somehow we straggle and have gone off course. We have to be in constant communication with Him so we can learn more of His divine nature. When we cast self aside and become totally dependent on Him, we will continue to grow daily and thus, experience the blessings that He has in store for us. It's high time that we rid sin from the camp so that He can have His own way in us. Let our lives be reflective of His, so that when the unbeliever sees us, they can read us and know that the Almighty God lives within our hearts. In this way they too can experience the light, and get out of the darkness. Live for Jesus, that's what matters.
{we have been called “out of darkness into His marvelous light”} what a lovely description of what we also call "being saved".
Many think to be saved means to be deprived, but here Peter clearly tells us that being changed into Jesus' likeness is the most marvelous thing that could happen to a person. Praise the LORD!! I want to always be in His marvelous light!
I would like to invite all my brothers and sisters to read the story of the Centurion in Matt. 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-17. The Centurion had heard the teaching of Christ, as it had been reported to him, he found that which met the need of the soul. All (you and me)that was spiritual within him responded to the Saviour's words. How many of us feels unworthy to approach the Lord with our deepest needs?
Mrs Whites states in the Desire of Ages,"His heart had been touched by the grace of Christ. He saw his own unworthiness; yet he feared not to ask help. He trusted not to his own goodness; his argument was his great need. His faith to hold upon Christ in His true character. He did not believe in Him merely as a worker of miracles, but as the friend and Saviour of mankind. Do you find the friend and your Saviour Jesus Christ?
God “has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His Son.”- Colossians 1:13. It is all offered us in His word. If we receive the word, we have deliverance. Christ Jesus, “who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, sanctification (holiness) and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30, NKJV). Vs.31. That, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Word (Jesus Christ).”
The quote is found in: Ellen G. White, The Desire Of Ages, p. 317.
If we become overwhelmed and discouraged, it would indicate faith has turned to unbelief wouldn't it? Only through faith in His exceeding great and precious promises" can we face our failures and falls by turning instantly to the Lord we have wounded and through repentance, receive His acceptance again. Doesn't His account of the prodigal son show the eagerness of the father toward the repenting son?
Today’s lesson also takes us back to creation Genesis chapter 1.The Bible clearly states the way the earth was in (Genesis 1:2)‘Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.’ I can imagine a place that is shapeless, that is void and above all darkness was over the surface of the deep. We see nothing pleasing from the way things were. But guess what amidst all that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. God though He saw the way things were and could see that it’s not wow, He spoke what He needed to see. The first thing that God spoke of was light (Genesis 1:3).He didn’t end there, when He saw that the Light was good, He SEPARATED the Light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4).The lesson today is talking about Darkness to Light, as children of God we need to live a Holy life not to have double standards. We need to separate ourselves from worldly things. Light and darkness cannot stay at the same place at the same time. (1 Kings 18:21) says,’ How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." (John 8:12) clearly tells us that Jesus is the Light of the World, and we have been taken out of the darkness (sin) and we need to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).Just give it a deep thought of what God had to do for us to receive salvation. God hates sin (Psalm 97:10) and hate is a very strong word indeed. As He hates sin, He did something that really amazes me, read (2 Corinthians 5:21), God made Jesus Christ who had no sin to be sin to pay off our debts. He put what He hates on Jesus for us to be what we are today.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we should not take these lessons lightly. It's obvious that we're living in the time of the end. The fast fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. Just take a step back and thoughtfully think about what Peter is saying about "scoffers". This was the Peter who walked on water with the Master. Peter is telling us that the scoffers totally took God out of schools and other public places to satisfy their insatiable greed. Peter is telling us that it's high time that we ask the Lord to sanctify us in His word so that we can be closer drawn to Him, knowing that the last days are upon us. Lets pray for one another to be strengthened in the Lord. Creation is groaning for her latter days.
This is great lesson to study,satans dart are from so many angles and that every Christian must be vigilante so as to notice where it is coming.
Satan is so tricky,he even uses your bosom friends to slander you when ever you make attempt to do the work of God.
Peter first saw this.
Please learn from this lesson according to peter.By Aidoo Samuel from Ghana.
I wonder if we would do more for Christ if we kept uppermost in our minds that we "are are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Pe 2:9 ESV)
Focusing on the "darkness" out of which Christ has drawn us seems counter-productive and is not likely to produce loving and lovable Christians.
Jesus said that He came that our joy might be full, and we can rejoice that God chose us to be a "special treasure" for Himself and a "chosen people" to reveal Christ to the world. Our assignment is to be ambassadors of the Kingdom. It's a big assignment, but then we have a big God. 🙂
Inge, I would only change one word in your thoughts, otherwise saying "Amen".
That word would be "privilege" instead of "assignment". Yes, we have received an assignment, but isn't it a privilege?