Devotional: Light in Darkness Matthew 4:12-17

The recent death of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd reveals to us the dark state of America. As a result there is the sentiment that there needs to be conversations on how to eliminate police brutality; especially as it relates to Black and Brown people in America. Police brutality is believed by many people to be a component of systemic racism, white supremacy, and white privilege. The major sports leagues, businesses, political parties, civic organizations, governments and religious are coming forth with statements stating their position on this darkness. Will these efforts be successful? I believe that they might have temporary social reforms and times of quietness. On the other hand, I do not think that there is any human entity that is able to bring about lasting peace in our country, and for that matter, any human group. Why?

It is because everyone has their own truth. The Book of Judges gives us insight. After settling a civil war between the Sons of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin (Judg. 20:18-36), the Sons of Israel make a peace treaty with Benjamin. Yet the tribes of Israel remain divided. The Sons of Israel then return home. “The sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and each one of them went out from there to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:24-25, NASB). There is no king in the United States. The government of the United States is made up of three branches. This check and balance is designed to maintain our democratic form of government. However, there is no branch of the government that can make a final decision without the agreement of the other two branches of the government. In the meantime the citizens do what is right in their own eyes.

There is a Light in the dark. There is hope for America. The writer, Matthew, tells us that Jesus settles in Galilee in the town of Capernaum (Matt. 4:12). Jesus comes to the northern area of Galilee. The land of Zebulon and Naphtali had been defeated by the Assyrians during the time of the Assyrian Empire. These two tribal areas of Israel were the most severely destroyed by the Assyrians resulting in heavy influence by pagan worship and lifestyle. Jesus comes to this dark area to carry bring to bring a great Light; to bring life to a place of death. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (4:17, NASB).

The end of darkness in the world comes when we repent. Repent means that we change our way of thinking. We change our way of living; what we think of one another and how we treat one another. Jesus comes to reconcile us to God and other people. We must be transformed in our minds and our behaviors must be sacrificed (Rom. 12:1-2) in order that we become holy as our God is holy.

There is a Light that can eliminate the darkness in our lives. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God, and He alone can redeem us from our sins; our darkness.

Prayer: Thank You God for the Light that is in Jesus Christ. Amen.