Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Today, we reflect on the truth that the light and glory of God speak to us of His Holiness.
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‘You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.’ (Psalm 76:4)
If ever you go to a show or concert, there is a massive use of lighting. If, for example, you watched the Olympic opening ceremony, you would have seen a massive use of light. Without lights, not much would have been seen. Light is used to draw attention and make visible.
Added to visible light making something visible, there is also the message or moral light that’s being projected, and, unfortunately, there was much dark messaging within that opening ceremony!
Light has these two main features: Light makes visible and light projects a message and truth.
The Lord is often described in terms of light. The light of the glory of God is designed, firstly, to draw our attention to Him. God’s light is expressive of His nature. We are to worship God with the understanding that He is light and contains no darkness, in fact, darkness is expelled from His holy presence.
‘This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.’ (1 John 1:5-6)
There’s much that can be said on this subject of God’s light, today I simply what us to see that God’s light - His glory - tells us that He is holy and without darkness. He is good. All His ways are good and truth. He cannot sin.
In response, how can you and I fill our eyes, and inspire our spirits, with the glory of God? A key method by which we gaze on the glory of God is to meditate on and worship out of the moments in scripture where God reveals His glory.
We live in a world where the ways of God are often judged as evil and repressive. If we are not wary, we can allow this dark form of light to shine on us and we may also begin to accuse God and doubt His goodness. Therefore, it’s vital that we seek to get a truer vision of God as light so as to be able to say, ‘You are radiant with light…’
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday, Inspired from Psalm 76:4, reflected on what it means for God to be ‘radiant light’. The Bible often uses light to speak of the appearance and ways of God; God’s light draws our attention to His holy and good nature, and, secondly, light speaks of His good ways that cast darkness out of our lives. Our message can be summarised as: God’s light restores worship and holiness.
Please read Psalm 76:4
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What would you say are the main teaching points of this short section of Psalm 76?
Why does God sometimes show His light (His glory) in a visible form? (See Luke 9:28-31 for example)
What does God’s light and glory teach us about His nature?
What does God’s light and glory teach us about His will for us?
What does 1 John 1:5-6 teach about the fruit that must attend anyone’s profession of faith?
Prayer - It might be good to pray for one another regarding anything that has come out of this challenging study.
SIV - Why is the pursuit of worship and holiness vital for us to be a light to this world?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
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