Devotion:
Read Isaiah 49:5-6.
We read in our passage today the prophecy that Jesus, the Messiah, is directed to minister not only to Israel, but he also has a mission to the Gentiles. Before the Messiah was born, God had chosen him to bring the light of the gospel, his message of salvation, to the world. Jesus, born a Jew, offered salvation to everyone, not just Jews. His message was for Jews and Gentiles, which means non-Jews. Gentiles would have been outsiders to the Jewish community. Gentiles were often seen as pagans who did not know the true God. During Jesus’ time, many Jews took such pride in their cultural and religious heritage that they considered Gentiles “unclean.” Gentiles and the half-Gentile Samaritans were viewed as enemies. But Jesus broke barriers between the “insiders” and the “outsiders.” He ministered to the poor, the sick, the rich, the young, the old, the religious, and the list goes on. And Jesus calls us, as his followers, to follow the example he set. Romans 12:13 says we are to “practice hospitality,” the Greek word “philoxenos” literally meaning “love to strangers.” We are to love those who are different from us. In Jesus’ day the “outsiders” were Gentiles, non-Jews. Who are the strangers or outsiders in your life? Our outsiders might be those who have a different political stance, social standing, religious belief, race, educational background, or geographic location. Outsiders might have a physical limitation, a mental disorder, or live in an unsavory part of town. We are called to be the light to the outsiders in our world.
Jesus says that we are to let our lights shine in such a way that they will see our good works and glorify God. As Jesus did, we want to light the way to salvation.
Personal Worship Option:
Pray today for those in your neighborhood, workplace, or sphere of influence who go against the grain of our culture's values and morals. Consider how you might shine the light of Christ for them.
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