Good Morning Friends,
Where do you sense Christ shining light into places of discouragement or confusion? What loyalties—personal, political, relational—threaten to overshadow your primary identity in Christ? What “nets” might Jesus be inviting you to leave behind so you can follow Him more freely? Where in your life has gloom lingered longer than you hoped? The Lord often begins His brightest work in the places we least expect. What Happens When We Are Called Into the Light And Called Into One Purpose?
Scripture: Isaiah 8:23, 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, Matthew 4:12–23
Message: The time is the movement from darkness to dawn as I compose this devotional. And scripture reminds us in the passage from Isaiah of a time and people who have walked in deep gloom yet are promised a great light. The prophet names regions—Zebulun and Naphtali—that had known invasion, instability, and humiliation. But God declares that their story will not end in darkness. A new dawn is coming, and it will rise precisely where the shadows have been longest. Matthew tells us that Jesus begins His ministry in those very places. The light Isaiah promised is not an idea, but a person. Jesus steps into the margins, the overlooked towns, the weary hearts, and announces, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The dawn breaks not because people find their way to God, but because God comes to them. Paul’s words to the Corinthians feel surprisingly modern. The church is splintering into factions— “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas.” Each group is convinced it has the truest version of the faith. But Paul cuts through the noise with a single piercing question: “Has Christ been divided?” In other words, do we worship severed body parts? The light that dawns in Galilee is meant to gather, not scatter. The light is designed to heal. Jesus calls disciples not into competing camps but into a shared mission. Unity is not uniformity; it is a common allegiance to Christ that outshines every lesser loyalty. In a world that rewards division, the church is called to embody a different way: one heart, one mind, one purpose in Christ.
And So, Jesus is the dawn of creation and the dawn of your salvation…the dawn of the redemption of the world so that heaven and earth might again be one. On the shores of Galilee, Jesus calls ordinary fishermen with a simple invitation: “Follow me.” He does not begin with doctrine, strategy, or qualifications. He begins with a relationship. He begins with Himself. And immediately, they leave their nets. Here the light of Christ not only reveals; it summons. It draws us out of old patterns, old identities, old securities and old insecurities. It calls us into a life that participates in God’s mission—healing, teaching, proclaiming good news, mending what is broken. The disciples do not yet understand the fullness of what they are stepping into. But they know enough: the One who calls is trustworthy.
Pray we realize that Lord Jesus is the Light of the world. Pray Jesus shine into the places where I have grown accustomed to shadows. Pray Jesus gather our divided hearts into unity with the Father. Pray we are called again to follow and we obey without hesitation. Pray we have the courage of those first disciples who trusted your voice more than their nets. Pray we be bearers of Your Divine Light. Pray we be healers in Your name. Pray we be a witness to Your Kingdom’s Dawn.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 