Step into the Light - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 23

Step into the Light
By Meg Bucher

“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 NLT

The tiny screen lit up my path just enough so I could make sure not to trip over the dog on the way down the stairs. In the darkness of the morning, I cherish my time with God. But I need a little bit of light to get there!

Light is something that makes things visible. We turn things towards the light to get a better view, and we turn the lights on to see where we are going. At night, we drive with lights on so others can see we were are going, too. The light of a candle gives a warm peaceful glow, Christmas brings outdoor lights to the long, dark days of winter …and when the light breaks the dawn to begin the day we witness a work of art.

Today’s verse is a piece of Zachariah’s Prophecy. The Father of John the Baptist, he knew the capability of the Light to shine the truth into life’s circumstances. Unable to understand how he and his wife, Elizabeth, could conceive a child at their age, Zachariah’s doubt cost him the ability to speak until the child was born. The first thing he spoke was to name his son, John, in obedience to the Lord. John the Baptist paved the way for our Lord, Christ Jesus! The Light was coming!

“The morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,” Zachariah said. The sky comes alive long before the sun rises. It’s light brightens up the horizon before we can visibly see the sun, itself. In the same way, before Jesus arrived on earth, the light from His presence was already being felt! John the Baptist preached powerfully. It brought many to baptism. But even John knew, there was One greater than he coming. Luke wrote:

“Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am- so much greater than I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’” - Luke 3:15-16 NLT

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Jesus is the light of the world. “I am the light of the world,” He said, “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT) When we shine who He is into our daily circumstances, we are able to see with more clarity. Through the lens of His light and love, we see with a brighter perspective.

Hopelessness is an epidemic. So many of us wrestle with anxious thoughts, worries, fears, and depression as we walk through our everyday lives. We do need to consult the aid of pastors, mentors, and counselors at times. God designed us to live in community, and to love and be loved by the people He has purposefully placed around us. If we seek His help to unravel doubts and worries, sadness and despair, we can step into the Light. The Creator of the Universe doesn’t want us to suffer needlessly. Though pain and trials are certainly a part of this world, His mercies are new each morning. He loves us, and seeks to bless us in the midst of the mess. He is our healer, able to shine light in the dark places of our lives.

When we allow Jesus to shine His reality into our situation, we will find the Hope …in Him …we’ve been looking for all along. “Realize that you are forgiven, you no longer sit in darkness,” The Life Application Bible notes advise, “and you have been given the path to peace.” The Holy Spirit, for every believer in Jesus, is alive and active in our lives. The third person of the trinity, He illuminates the Word of God, translates the mumblings of our prayers to heaven, and shines light on the Lord’s will for our daily lives.

Further Reading
Isaiah 9:2
Malachi 4:2

Additional Resources:
The Life Application Bible. Third Edition. New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers. Carol Stream, IL. Copyright 2019.

Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com. She is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” “Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” “Glory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,” “Home, Finding Our Identity in Christ,” and "Sent, Faith in Motion." Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters …which led her to pursue her writing passion. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. Meg loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader for teen girls.