Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5; 1 John 2:7-11; Isaiah 50:10
Tue, 7 June 2022

God Is Light in Darkness

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about walking in darkness in these texts?

Deeper Reflection
WE SHOULD NOT BE CAUGHT SURPRISED BY THE DAY OF the Lord because we are “children of light” (vv.4-5). Why are believers called “children of light”? “Light throughout the Old and New Testaments represents either an attribute of God (or Christ) or His revealing activity; sometimes the two notions merge.”10 So, we are “children of light” simply because we are children of God – and “God is light” (1 Jn 1:5), and followers of Jesus, who is “the light of the world” (Jn 8:12) that “shines in the darkness” and “enlightens everyone” (Jn 1:5, 9).We may be “children of light”, but we can be walking in darkness, like when we fail to walk in love (1 Jn 2:9). When we walk in darkness, we do not know where we are going, because the darkness has blinded our eyes (1 Jn 2:11). A good reality check is to ask ourselves: Do I know where I am going?In Scripture, darkness can be spiritual and moral darkness as well as adversity darkness. One who “fears the Lord and obeys His voice” can “walk in darkness and has no light” (Isa 50:10). When we are in such a discipleship situation, we are to “trust in the name of the Lord” – in who God is, even His character – and “rely on his God”. What God says represents who God is. To trust in God’s name is to trust in God’s Word. “God is light” and His Word is “a lamp shining in a dark place” “to which we do well to pay attention” (2 Pet 1:19).
10 G. K. Beale, 1-2 Thessalonians, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (IVP Academic, 2003), 146
Application:

What darkness am I am walking in and how will I respond to it?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To see in darkness through the light of God
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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