Marvelous Light

Isa.9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

 on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned...

I am 'labouring' through the last books in the Old Testament,

 groaning through the sobering passages of God's wrath and judgment 

for everyone who turns away from Him, because they do not fear Him,

 but worship others gods, and do not keep His commandments.

But oh, wonderful grace of Jesus, always with every judgment God reminds them

of his mercy and redemption for all who repent and come/return to Him!!

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Rom.6:12-14

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.

13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness,

but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life;

and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Part of Zacharias's song in Luke 1:76-79

And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord

to prepare the way for Him,

77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the Dawnf will visit us from on high,

79to shine on those who live in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

into the path of peace.”

The poem below is but a pale halo of awe, for words fail as we consider

the awesome love and mercy of God...

Into the darkness of the world that groans with scorn and spite

The splendor of hope is unfurled to pierce the dark with Light

To salvage us from death’s despair, from sin’s most cunning means

To draw us to repentant prayer where mercy intervenes

The Saviour of the world has come; Jesus, the Son of God

The Cornerstone of Christendom to bear death’s meanest rod

The Great I AM, the King of kings and Lord of lords became

The Lamb who takes away the sins of all who trust His Name

‘Ho, every son and daughter’ the Heavenly Father cries

Come, drink the Living Water from the well that never dries

Come and buy without money, eat to fulness without price

A land of milk and honey waits through mercy’s sacrifice

Into the darkness of the world in need of peace and joy

Behold, a great Light is unfurled, veiled as an infant boy

Who came to bring Justice to earth and hope to sorry strife

To pierce the fierce shadow of death with everlasting Life

…to guide our feet into the path of peace, away from sin

To satisfy God’s blameless wrath by bringing souls to Him

To soften stubborn hardness of cold hearts with mercy’s might

To call us out of darkness into His marvelous light

© Janet Martin

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, 

a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, 

to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness 

into His marvelous light.

Isa.55:1-9

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money;

 come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? 

and your labour for that which satisfieth not? 

hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,

 and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live

; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, 

and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God,

 and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

 and let him return unto the Lord, 

and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, 

and my thoughts than your thoughts.