---
title: "Light for a Dark World - Isaiah 49:6"
slug: isaiah-496-light-for-a-dark-world
date: 2016-02-10
author: "Guest User"
original_url: https://www.lutheranindianministries.org/news-notes/category/isaiah-496-light-for-a-dark-world
section: news-notes
images: ["images/fa4535e1-1748628700852", "images/1f45bcbb-image-asset.jpeg"]
---
# Light for a Dark World - Isaiah 49:6

[News from Brookfield](/news-notes/category/News+from+Brookfield)

Feb 10

Written By [Guest User](/news-notes?author=6839f4dcc52c4707a9ee7c66)

![](images/1f45bcbb-image-asset.jpeg)

**Ash Wednesday, February 10th**

Light for a Dark World - Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)  
  
**“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”**

In autumn, as the daylight hours diminish, I light candles during my morning quiet time. I continue this practice into the springtime, even as the daylight increases. The word “Lent” comes from two words: the Old English “Lencten”, which means spring, and the German “Lenz”, or lengthening of  days. Lent, that 40 day season of preparation for the believer, is a time of prayer, repentance and self-denial as the daylight hours lengthen.  
  
As I reflect on my various candle holders, the amount of light each disperses differs greatly. My solid rust-colored ceramic candle holder is just that - solid. You can’t see the light unless the flame of the candle is above the holder.  
  
Sometimes the fragrance is the only indication that a candle is burning. The tea-lite candle in the sunflower luminaire gives off a dull glow. Contrast that with the candle that shines brightly through my cut-out dragon fly holder.  
  
How do I reflect Christ’s light in this dark world? Is it a fragrance? A dull glow? Or like that dragon fly candle holder – “holey” or “holy” – filled with God’s Spirit so His light diffuses though me?  
  
Jesus came into a dark world of sin. God’s call to His servant was not just to the tribes of Judah and Israel; His plan was much greater – to be a light for all nations.  
  
There is much darkness in our Native communities –abuse, addiction, violence, lack of hope, suicide … the list goes on. While the statistics are higher for Native Americans, that darkness is everywhere in our world. In raising up Native leaders; their impact extends beyond their tribes – it is light for the Nations – to reach to the end of the earth.  
  
*Dear Heavenly Father,  
Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, into this dark world to be a light for all nations. Thank you that by His death and resurrection, Your salvation may reach to the end of the earth.  
In Jesus Name, Amen.*  
  
Written by Sue Gebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[Get the devotions in your inbox](http://eepurl.com/bxbxWL)

[lent devotion 2016](/news-notes/tag/lent+devotion+2016)[devotion](/news-notes/tag/devotion)

[Guest User](/news-notes?author=6839f4dcc52c4707a9ee7c66)