Print off this week's "More to Explore" sheet and use it all week!
This week’s story comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is called a prophetic book and was written by the prophet Isaiah. God spoke to Isaiah, and Isaiah told God’s people what He said. This book includes prophecies that were fulfilled when Jesus came to Earth and even prophecies about things yet to come when God restores all things!
In the New Testament, Paul compares and contrasts the difference between God opening our hearts to the light of Jesus with someone who has blinded unbelievers to the light of the Gospel. Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-6.
Who is blinding the minds of unbelievers?
Name one way you have seen the light of Jesus in your life.
Waiting is really hard work! It’s easy to get distracted and discouraged. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 27:14 to “wait for the Lord” and to “be strong, and let your heart take courage.” Isaiah reminds us in Isaiah 40:31 that those who wait on the Lord “will renew their strength.”
When we wait patiently we give God our worries. We believe He is in control of everything in our lives and He has our very best interests at heart. When we put our trust in God He gives us strength, encourages us when we are tired and helps us wait faithfully with hope for His perfect timing.
Throughout Scripture, light is used to describe God. The psalmist uses this metaphor to describe Him physically (Psalm 4:6, 76:4 and 104:2), His Word (Psalm 19:8, and 119:105 and 130) and the life we find in Him (Psalm 27:1 and 56:13). Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would be light in the darkness (Isaiah 9:2, 42:6 and 49:6).
When Jesus defined Himself as light, He was telling Jews who were familiar with these Scriptures that He was God AND the promise of God come to Earth. (John 8:12)
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Think about a time the darkness of night frightened you. How did you feel when the sun finally rose and made things light again? Now think about how Jesus brought light to a world lost in darkness. Write a poem about these thoughts.
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Grab some hot chocolate and your family and take a walk or drive through a neighborhood with Christmas lights. Read John 8:12, 1 John 1:7 and Matthew 5:14-16. Consider how Christmas lights remind us Jesus is the Light of the World. Ask the Lord to make your family a light that shines for Jesus in darkness.
