Seeking The Light of the Morning Star Which Dispels the Darkness that Plagues Us!

Dear Fellow Children of God,



I was feeling grumpy as I left for worship on Sunday morning.  On Saturday I had received my bank statement in the mail.  Some of our automatic insurance payments had gone up, without notification!  As Kathy and I seek to navigate retirement with less income (and less bills), the financial reality of more expense did not sit well with me.  I didn’t bite Kathy’s head off, but. . .



Do you ever experience times of darkness?  Has worry stolen your joy?  Have you faced the overwhelming weight of depression?  Have you doubted the promises of God, and wondered if you really have “a hope and a future?” (Jeremiah 29:11)  Has your anger damaged, or even destroyed. important relationships?  Have you tragically hurt loved ones?  Are there times that you know that the desires of your heart, even as a one called as a child of God, are downright rebellious?  Can you remember when your heart desired evil?



Having left for church services with less than a positive attitude last Sunday, I was struck as I sat in the pew by the Epistle Lesson from 2 Peter, which talked about “a dark place.”  Actually, the assigned reading was Peter’s sharing of his experience at Jesus’ Transfiguration, and the practical impact of that event on the life and the faith of Peter.  Please read with me 2 Peter 1:16-21. 

“¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

What Peter says to the church of his day, He says to us.  If you need help when you are in a dark place, YOU HAVE THAT HELP!  God inspires Peter to assure Christians of all times that our Savior, Jesus, really is the majestic Son of God, who possess honor and glory.  Peter is telling the persecuted church, “Your Savior really does have the power and authority to help you in and through these dark times!”  Peter says, “I saw Jesus’ glory revealed before my eyes.  I heard the voice from heaven declare that Jesus truly is the beloved Son of God.  The prophecies are true!”

But, the thought that really struck me in worship last Sunday centered on the word, “more.”  (I confess, I took out my phone and looked up the Greek words for 2 Peter 1:19.)  Peter uses Jesus’ glorious transfiguration revelation, that He really is the Son of God, to say that this event even “more fully confirms the prophetic word.”  Peter is talking about the Scriptures, about the Bible.  So, Peter bluntly tells God’s Church, “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”  In other words, Jesus fulfilled all prophecies concerning the glory and honor, the power and the salvation, which would come through the promised Messiah.  Pay attention to God’s Word! 

The practical meaning Peter shares is that Scripture is a lamp, which shines in those dark places of your life. (2 Peter 1:19, Psalm 119:105) God’s prophetic Word will point you to Jesus, The Morning Star, whom you will see and believe in as God’s answer to the darkness in your life, and in this world!  Peter goes on to assure Christians of all time that Scripture is not just the word of a man, or mankind.  The words of the Bible are inspired by God Himself, as the writers “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  Peter is telling those plagued by darkness, pay attention to the Light of God, to Jesus Christ, found in the Word of God in the Scriptures.  This Morning Star will rise in your own hearts!

Have you experienced times of darkness?  Are you plagued with worry, overwhelmed by depression, full of doubt, prone to fits of anger, or overcome by temptation?  Do you wonder where God is in this fallen world?  WE HAVE HELP!  God’s Word points us to Jesus, the Promised Messiah, the King of the Universe, the Savior of the World.  This God / Man, who possesses honor and glory, loves you so much that He came to live in this fallen world.  Jesus loves you so much that He suffered, and He even died for your dark sins.  The Son of God is so powerful that He rose again from being dead, defeating the powers of darkness, and Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.  Jesus’ transfiguration confirms this light in our dark world . . . even more!



As you face the dark times in your life and in your world, Jesus’ love, His forgiveness, His salvation, are the source of light that will dispel your darkness.  Stars do not rise quickly, but they do rise surely, every night.  God’s Morning Star is sure to defeat the darkness of your life.  And this light is found in the Scriptures.  “You will do well to pay attention.”



A Child of God, Seeking The Light of the Morning Star Which Dispels the Darkness that Plagues Us!

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.   Please remember, THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAY 26, IS ASH WEDNESDAY.  Please take time for this worship opportunity for repentance, and to focus on the Light of God which dispels our darkness!

P.P.S.  Here are some more fishing pictures from a local Lake where I fished on Thursday, February 20.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/NxwDG1AmrWctHfrFA

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ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I am now retired as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran in Palmer, AK.  This devotion was previously titled, "Thoughts from the Pastor."  However, with life's changes I will now call it "Journeys Through Life as a Child of God."  I am only sending this message to those who have asked o receive it.  If you know someone else who desires to receive this message, have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.  You can also view this message on my Facebook page.

            A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY THEY ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING MY DEVOTIONS.  Since I’m only sending these e-mails to people who ask for them, many are no longer receiving them.  BUT, if you read this on Facebook and would like to receive them, or if you know someone who would like to receive these devotions, send me an e-mail at jonrock53@mtaonline.net, and I will add you to my distribution list.