January 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The night watch of the ancient watchman must have seemed even longer than the night shift of the modern worker. The watchman in Israel did not have a clock. He did not know how many hours he had left to go. All he could do was look to the east and wait for the first sign of the new day. The writer of Psalm 130 compares this anxious waiting of the night watchman to his own longing: "I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning."

The first watchmen we meet in the New Testament are shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night." It became the most memorable night in history, for light came before the night was over. Those watchmen were the first to hear that Jesus was born.

Jesus was the one for whom the poet of Psalm 130 was waiting. Why? Because Jesus can do what only God can do: save from sin.

Let's be sure that we don't overlook this truth. The Old Testament waits for the Lord God to bring the Day and "redeem Israel from all their sins." The New Testament announces that the time of waiting is over: "Give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

If Jesus is not God, we are still in darkness. But since Jesus is God, he has the power to forgive and renew. Our night has ended. The day has begun. "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you" (Eph. 5:14).

The darkness is over. There is no reason to wait for the light anymore, for Jesus has come. There is no reason to be burdened by sin any longer, for Jesus has come. The work of salvation is perfect, for God has done it.

Reflections

Reflect on how God has brought you from darkness into light, and then give God the glory.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.