Monday Reflection \u2013 December 07, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n
Reflecting the True Light<\/p>\n\n\n
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3<\/p>\n\n\n
Daniel 12 begins on a sad note as there is the declaration of a future\u00a0time of trouble\u00a0for Israel. This is not just any trouble, but verse one notes that it will be one that has never been seen since Israel was established. The Jewish people knew many a\u00a0time of trouble\u00a0throughout their history; however, this will be worse. This refers to the time of persecution for Israel and world calamity known as the Great Tribulation. Jesus quoted this passage in Matthew 24:21.\u00a0In Daniel 12:1, Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands\u00a0watch\u00a0over the sons of your people. The angel\u00a0Michael\u00a0is often associated with spiritual battle (Daniel 10:13, 21; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7). Michael is called\u00a0the archangel, thus Satan\u2019s true opposite. Michael is the spiritual warrior whom God has appointed as a spiritual guardian over Israel. So a spiritual battle is taking place.<\/p>\n\n\n
Despite the terrors of that time, deliverance is assured. No matter how great the attack is against the Jewish people, God promises to preserve them, maintaining His covenantal promise to Abraham. This promise of deliverance is for these who are\u00a0found written in the book. There is also the promise of the resurrection of the dead – some to everlasting life and some to shame\u00a0and\u00a0everlasting contempt.<\/p>\n\n\n
In today\u2019s Watchword, we find another promise for the righteous – Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Those who live in God\u2019s wisdom will\u00a0shine. Despite the entire calamity and all the difficulty coming upon Israel, God has\u00a0those who are wise, and they\u00a0shall shine. The wise among God\u2019s people are those who\u00a0turn many to righteousness. All God\u2019s people are like\u00a0stars,\u00a0in the sense that they radiate light and help others to see and find their way. But those\u00a0who turn many to righteousness\u00a0shine even more brightly, helping even more people to see the light and find their way. Note that the brightness of God\u2019s wise ones will last forever. It isn\u2019t fading. It endures in the midst of so many other temporary things. We put our effort into so many other things, but even if they succeed, they give only a temporary shine. It is worth it to invest our lives into the things that last\u00a0forever and ever.<\/p>\n\n\n
As we have entered into this Advent Season and Christmas is fast approaching, putting up Christmas trees with lights have and will still take place in many homes, businesses, parks and shopping malls. Many have also put up their Moravian stars. All these are offering light. However, we must remind ourselves as believers that we are called to be the light \u2013 exhibiting wisdom and leading many to righteous living. In this way we shine like the brightness of the sky and like the stars. We also remind ourselves that we are not the true light, Jesus is. We are called to reflect the light in our corners of this dark world with people facing many and varied dark situations, acknowledging that Jesus is the light of the world. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 December 07, 2020 Reflecting the True Light Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3 Daniel 12\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[10],"class_list":["post-431","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-leadership"],"yoast_head":"\n