Week Two, 2026
“Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows” (Isaiah 9:2).
It is something I try to do at least once every year: go hear the words and music of Handel’s Messiah. Written in just twenty-four days with thousands of notes and words, it depicts the totality of the life of Christ, from prophecy until the resurrection.
It is especially rewarding when the written script of words is displayed behind the orchestra. Each time, it seems that I find a new nugget, and this year was no exception. There it was, Isaiah 9:2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
It was the prophecy of salvation. We are all sinful creatures who walk through life as sinners in darkness until we see and accept the light of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is truly the great light.
Isaiah 9:2 is a prophetic verse about a great light shining on those living in darkness, often interpreted as a promise of hope and salvation significantly fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. The “darkness” symbolizes oppression, despair, and spiritual ignorance, while the “light” represents the hope and joy brought by the arrival of a Savior. The verse foretells a turning point where light breaks through gloom, offering both immediate encouragement and a lasting message of salvation. It truly is the great light.
Then I saw another nugget: “By His stripes we are healed.” This is a powerful biblical phrase from Isaiah 53:5, signifying that the suffering, wounds, and punishment Jesus Christ endured (His “stripes”) provide spiritual and physical healing, redemption, and peace for believers, as echoed in 1 Peter 2:24. It speaks to the profound sacrifice of the Messiah, who bore humanity’s sins and ailments so that people could be made whole.
And then, after going through the life of Christ, the question is asked: “Who is the God of glory?” This is a title for the one, transcendent God of the Bible, emphasizing His majestic splendor, power, and honor. Jesus Christ is identified as the embodiment of this glory in the New Testament, revealing God’s perfect nature, grace, and truth to humanity.
Then it ends, and the audience leaves to ponder who is their God of glory. I ask each of you who read this: Who is your God of glory?
Sometimes True Stories
Equating what we do with who we are, our performance with our identity, is not a worldview unique to many people. We are made with a “God-shaped emptiness,” to paraphrase Blaise Pascal. But if secularized people do not turn to God, they will turn to anything else to fill the void. For many in a materialistic culture, our gods are therefore material measures of success such as performance, possessions, and popularity.
Accordingly, perhaps we should not be surprised that Gallup is now reporting the current “drop in US religiosity” as “among [the] largest in the world.” In 2015, 66 percent of US adults said religion was an important part of their daily life. Today, only 49 percent agree. This seventeen-point drop “ranks among the largest Gallup has recorded in any country over any ten-year period since 2007.” —Jim Denison
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Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
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What do you think of when you see the word trustworthy? Someone you can rely on, someone honest, truthful, and dependable. These are all character traits we should endeavor to possess. When we receive trustworthy behavior from someone, it boosts our spirits and refreshes our soul. When we find such a person, we are blessed; if we can become that person, God will bless us.
Quotes You Can Use
If Christ provides only a part of our salvation, leaving us to provide the rest, then we are still hopeless under the load of sin. —J. Gresham Machen
You are only as powerful as you are weak in your own strength. —John MacArthur
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is not to give thrills, but to create in us Christlike character. —J.I. Packer
If you can’t sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It’s the worrying that gets you, not the lack of sleep. —Dale Carnegie
God created everything by number, weight, and measure. —Isaac Newton
My job is not to worry about tomorrow, but to trust Jesus today.
Jesus, who died on the cross stands by you today.
Jesus knows what I am facing today.
The Lord stands by His people: through their persecution, through the words of His promise, and through the protection of His servant. Trust that the Lord Jesus is by you; be faithful where you are. —Edgar Aponte
Pride is the mother hen under which all other sins are hatched. —C.S. Lewis
Gratitude is never silent. People who are truly thankful for the Lord’s healing will always express it. Give thanks to God openly and often. —Zach Jernigan
Speech should be treated as though it were a loaded gun because we will be judged by what we do, as well as what we say. —Tony Ferguson
No man is too lost for Jesus to save, but no man is too good to escape hell.
Proverbs 8:33 says, “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.” This verse is not a suggestion, but a command from the Lord. Treat it with care. —Tony Ferguson
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