9-25-2025

Good Morning All,

           Isaiah 60:2-3; “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.   And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

    As much as it is a nuisance for all people, I am fascinated when the electricity goes out.  Because when it does, you really get the sense of what darkness is.  Most of us never really experience true darkness.  We have night lights or there are security lights.  We even use our cell phones to provide light.  There are always enough lights around to give us some semblance of seeing what is there.  It might just be shapes or outlines but we see the forms well enough.  So, when it gets really dark, most of us have a sense of awe at what total darkness is like.

    That is what sin does to the world.  It turns it completely dark.  It tries to hide God from our eyes.  The more it looks dark, the harder it is to see God.  This leads us away from God because we do not see Him and we soon try to find our own way.  When we hear the Gospel and the Spirit moves us to faith, we begin to see the light.  It is a little foggy but we see the light.  There are times when we lose sight of God but he continually seeks us out and bring us back to the light.  But what about those who do not see?

    This is the wonderful and daunting task that God gives to us, His Church.  We are to be his light in this world.  We are to be the active agents in this dark world.  We are to be his light in this dark, sin-filled world.  We are to the proclaimers of God grace and forgiveness.  We are to do this with our mouths but also with our lives.  In order for people to see the light, we must be out in the darkness.  We must reach out to people in need with God’s grace.

    Many people say things like, “if I could see God then I would believe” or maybe “why doesn’t God show himself to us to prove everything he claims?”  This is an interesting view.  It calls for the incarnational (the physically living) God to appear to them. Just like he did in Bethlehem so many years ago.  Even some Christians think this.  The truth is that people do see God every day.  They see God in us.  We are the Church, the body of Christ, we are the incarnation (Physical presence) of God here on earth.  We are called to be the hands and arms of God.  We are to be the very presence of God of among the people.  Luther calls the Church the “masks of God;” the people see us at work but it is really God through his Spirit that is interacting with those around us.

    So, take time this week to be the incarnation of God to the people around you.  Take time to be sure that people really see God in your life.  Be the light that shines brightly in this dark and sad world.

Dear Father, make us shine brightly.  Make us shine the light of your wondrous love.  Give to us the courage to boldly proclaim your love to this world which too often knows only pain, sadness, and darkness.  Move us by your Spirit.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,       

Pastor Bret