Read Isaiah 9:1-4

Isaiah announces new possibilities for Israel as the formerly obscure possibilities emerge in the light of God. Isaiah notes a contrast between the former days and the latter days. Israel moves from contempt to glory, from oppression to liberation.

Friend, you and I are part of the long human journey from darkness to light, a campaign that will shatter the yoke of oppression and provide a rich harvest for all people. At our journey’s end, we will dance with joy! Our mission is to live in a way that will bring more and more people in touch with the Source of light. This week, we have considered the task of simply being present—being ourselves as we transform into and reflect the image of Christ.

I was conscious of you and your travails as I wrote. That awareness held me accountable, and I imagined that you held me in love. Thinking of you made me cognizant of the mystical connection that we all share. You need not be physically present to make an impact. You influenced me! Likewise, your prayers for those who don’t even realize that you are doing so create power for good in their lives. Your material donations to the church’s missions affect people all over the world. The exercise of your personal gifts in your own ministry extend far beyond your sight—even beyond your vision. Your simple service and compassion to others reverberates past them into places you’ll never know. And the witness that only your life can provide is essential to tell the whole story of the kingdom.

I cannot wait to hear the stories of the good done in a world that needs it more every day—of the lives that have been touched, even transformed, by contact with you. You serve as an exemplar of the love, affirmation, and welcome of Jesus Christ. For the Fisher of People, you were quite a catch!

Thank you, Lord, for the chance to serve your kingdom and for your unwavering presence in our lives. Amen.

excerpted from: Disciplines: A Book of Daily Devotions 2014 Copyright©2013 by Upper Room Books. Used with permission.