Isaiah 49:5-7

“He says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” vs. 6

As the prophet considered the mission of Israel he had come to believe that the Lord had a larger vision for his Servant. He tells the people that they have been given as a light to the nations. The salvation of God was for all the world and not just the descendents of Abraham and Jacob. That prophetic vision was a massive step forward for the Jewish people and it was picked up by Jesus who insisted that his disciples’ mission was to go with the gospel to the whole world. As members of the Body of Christ we have learned that this is our commission too, and Epiphany has become a time for us to reflect on that evangelical mission to be the Light of the world, not only as individuals but as communities of faith. Some days it seems as though darkness has gotten a second wind among us. There is a sense that something is wrong, and that our leaders are more interested in the exercise of raw power than the promotion of the common good. Sometimes we imagine that we’re on our own in healing the brokenness, but that’s never the case. It’s together that we are the Light of Christ, and together we make a difference.

Thought for the Day: How will I be the light today?