"Send Out Thy Light And Thy Truth"
By Lois J. Stucky
Our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed to His listeners at one time, "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12). At another time He stated to His disciples, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). These truths recorded in God’s Word shall never pass away. Truly it is a great privilege of us born-again Christians today to walk in Light and Truth and Life because we have the Lord Jesus Christ abiding in us.
In stark contrast, all about us are people who are in darkness, blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). They believe lies of the devil instead of the Truth found in God’s Word. Multitudes are "dead in trespasses and sins" instead of possessing the very blessed gift of life eternal (Eph. 2:1). Yes, Christians inherit great riches in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Some walking in darkness are in remote and simple cultures where Christ has never been preached and where they bow to grotesque idols that cannot see or hear or care. On the other hand some are members of modern and sophisticated cultures where opportunities to learn of the Lord Jesus abound but are replaced by worship of material things of this world, while Christ’s claims are ignored or rejected outright. Sadly, all who walk in darkness are lost! They are destined for a Christless eternity!
When on earth Christ’s heart yearned in compassion over the multitudes who were as sheep having no shepherd. His response was, "…pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:38). Christians, this is a call (or should I say a command?) that comes ringing down to us through the centuries: "Pray…."
Here are some pleas we can lift out of Scripture and use in prayer for the multitudes living and walking in darkness: O God, "send out Thy light and Thy truth…" to enlighten and guide them (Psa. 43:3). O God, "…send from heaven and save…send forth…mercy and...truth" (Psa. 57:3). There are whole nations over which we can make these requests, for in nation after nation the vast majority of the population walk in darkness because they are not related to Christ in a saving way. Their need of God’s Light and Truth is urgent!
Arising from our knees in prayer, can we then offer ourselves as laborers in God’s harvest field to take part in sending out His Light and Truth? Many of us cannot at this point in life go in person, but we have ways of sending the Gospel into the Lord’s harvest field. Consider carefully that it is His harvest in which we are to labor. If, as the disciples, we stood in His visible presence and heard with our ears the pathos in His voice, how seriously would we take this expression of His heart? What glad response would it elicit from us?
I wonder if we do not too casually pray the words Christ gave us in Matthew 6:10: "Thy kingdom come." His kingdom is a majestic, glorious, enduring kingdom that deserves our forceful and heartfelt involvement. Do we put the deep feeling into that petition it deserves as we pray it? It deserves as well the devotion the Apostle Paul beseeches us to in Romans 12:1-2: presenting our bodies "…a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God...[our] reasonable service," to labor in God’s harvest field.
The fields are ready for harvest. "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John 4:36). We are deeply grateful to those standing with us in helping Herald of His Coming to fill its God-appointed place in spreading the Gospel. We will rejoice to hear from others whom God leads to participate. The postage account runs very close and a rise in some postage costs is upon us. Always we need also your prayers. Thank you, and God bless you!
Please Pray –
For those in the body of Christ who faithfully intercede for the advancement of God’s kingdom and that their number will increase. Pray for God’s protection over them because Satan targets those who are effective in prayer and bring down his kingdom (Eph. 6:12). We welcome Herald readers to pray regularly for the ministry and to request the quarterly Prayer Force Newsletter which contains requests for Herald of His Coming ministry and staff. We are very thankful for the prayers of Herald readers and thank God for them again and again.
For the young people on the Herald mailing list or for sons and daughters of parents on the mailing list, for strength to overcome the temptations to conform to the ways of the world. Pray for salvation for those unsaved. Ask God to preserve and to endue those whom He is calling to devote themselves full time to His service and to guide and help them prepare for that calling. Encourage young people to read the challenging messages in Herald of His Coming.
For pastors on the Herald mailing list to be supported by praying congregations, and thereby be made "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). Pray pastors will be always filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled to lead their flocks in ways of holiness and service. Pray that Herald of His Coming messages will minister encouragement to pastors as they seek to fulfill their holy calling.