Illuminated by the Spirit

Below is a sample from one of my favorite devotionals. One of the benefits of the electronic media is that you can now have free access to a wealth of material. Some of that information is really beneficial. For years I have purchased and read various devotional books. It is helpful to get a positive theological thought for the day from a trusted source. For the last couple of years I have received those devotionals electronically in my email inbox daily.

Drawing Near can be viewed at http://www.gty.org/Resources/Devotionals and they also give you an opportunity to enroll in their email list. In addition, the entire resource can also be viewed on Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=COaJ90FJQt8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=drawing+near&hl=en&ei=tPVCTNm_M4T58Ab4l6HkDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

"That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9).

In the natural realm, darkness can be a debilitating and frightening thing. The story is told of a missionary who was on board ship one dark night when suddenly he was awakened by the frantic cry of "Man overboard!" Immediately he arose from his bunk, grabbed the portable lamp from its bracket, and held it at the window of his cabin.

He couldn't see anything, but the next morning he was told that the flash of his lamp through the porthole emitted just enough light to enable those on deck to see the missing man clinging to a rope. They rescued him seconds before his strength would have given out. The light had shone just in time to save the man's life.

In the spiritual realm, darkness is even more devastating because it represents sin with all its disastrous consequences. First John 1:5-6 says, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."

Unbelievers are characterized as children of darkness. They are enslaved to Satan, the prince of darkness, who blinds their minds so they don't see the light of Christ's glorious gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). They love darkness and reject light because they don't want their evil deeds to be exposed (John 3:19-20).

Christians, however, have been called out of darkness into God's marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). That refers to God's taking the initiative to save us. As an unredeemed sinner, you could never have turned from darkness on your own because you had neither the ability nor the desire to do so. God had to grant you saving grace and the illumination of His Spirit so you could recognize truth and respond accordingly.

That blessed privilege is known only to Christians. What a joy--not only to recognize God's truth, but also to walk in it daily!

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for illuminating your mind and enabling you to see spiritual truth. Pray diligently for others to be so illuminated.