Invasion of Light

Morning Thought: God’s Word, the Scripture, is like MT Zion – beautiful, strong and holy. David chose MT Zion as his dwelling place, and we should make a choice to abide in God’s Word. Living in God’s Word will make you like David’s City – mighty, impenetrable and prosperous. “Great is The Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress” (Ps 48:1-3).

Morning Thought: God will sustain you! There’s great elation when you receive something new: new life in Christ, a new baby, a new semester or whatever it may be. But you also stand at the base of a mountain, and looking up to the peak is quite daunting. How am I going to climb this mountain? How can I provide for this new child? How am I going to complete all these assignments? Trust in The Lord, he will keep you through every step if you trust in him. “And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.” (Jude 1:24, 25 MSG)

Morning Thought: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Throughout history God chose people from humble and rejected places. Gideon came from the weakest clan of Manasseh, David from the overlooked sheep pens, and Jesus from an obscure country town. The world seeks status; God seeks those who are small in their own eyes. Wherever you’re from, good can come, if you walk humbly before God. (John 1:44-46)

Morning Thought: Time does not heal infected wounds, it only makes them worse. But God heals infected wounds, making us whole. Is your heart wounded? Is your soul bitter? Invite the Healer into your pain. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1 NASB, cf. Luke 4:18-19)

Morning Thought: When Andrew and his friend approached Jesus for the first time, Jesus asked them, “What do you seek?” Their answer is significant. They didn’t ask for a miracle or anything material (though these are acceptable prayers). Instead, they wanted to spend time with him, to get to know him. I don’t think there is any greater desire. What a great example these two disciples have given us about the revolutionary power of spending time with the King! “And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’ So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.” (John 1:37-39 NASB)

Morning Thought: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Ps 73:25). It’s not that the psalmist had no other desires; he desired food, water and companionship like we all do. But none of these desires compared to his longing for God. Every desire was eclipsed by his ultimate passion: knowing his Creator. Nothing compares to you!

Morning Thought: Never underestimate the power of small ministry. Big things happen when we value the little. And one person is never really little because every soul has infinite value to God. The whole New Testament church began with small ministry. “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter ).” (John 1:40-42 NIV)