Psalm 16:2, “Father, I Adore You” (Terrye Coelho—1792).

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 60. I was preparing to lie down for the evening’s rest, and a particular, personal question pried my mind: What would you have me do? I like to open the Bible and read whatever I notice first on the page. Sort of like checking in on the mind of the LORD to find something of His thoughts to ponder while I receive his gift of sleep (Psalm 127:2). The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 1:

Isaiah 60:1 ¶ Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

The first two words spoke to me: Arise, shine! I thought, yep, that’s what He would have me do!

This morning, very early, I woke pondering the same question, having forgotten the answer. I rose to make final preparations for this Lord’s Day. In the dark, I slipped into my slippers and robe, took up my Bible, placed the marker ribbon where I left off reading, and sneaked quietly from the room to my prayer closet. After my formal ritual, I knelt to present my question to Him: “What would you have me do?” When I sat down and opened my Bible, the first verse of Isaiah 60 caught my attention, and I thought, Oh yeah! He answered that one. “Arise, shine!”

Along the still waters, I considered the prophecy of God’s promised answer to a question His Son was invited to ask: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalms 2:8). Consider Isaiah 60:3, “And the Gentiles (the Heathen) shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” This Light entered the world at the birth of God’s Son (Luke 2:32; see Acts 13:47; 26:23; see also Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6).

The Lord’s promises to His Son are wonderful, and what joy is ours to know that among them is this, that God took thought concerning us Gentiles. What rejoicing is ours on this and every Christmas remembrance: Jesus is the Christ of GOD, sent into the world to give “Light” to “the people” (the Jews) and to the Gentiles too (Acts 26:23). For by His Cross He removed the enmity between the seeds, and reconciles both Jews and Gentiles in one body, so making peace (Ephesians 2:14-17).

Yet, there is more! For to the Gentiles the Spirit said, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). The Jews’ national rejection of their Messiah turned to a blessing for the nations of the Gentiles (Romans 11:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Selah! — See Deuteronomy 32:21).

And yet, there is more, Jews and Gentiles who are together in Christ are appointed to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, the Spirit spoke to me from the rest of Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Just then, I heard the voice of many waters calling to me from across the still waters to catch up: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, we talked for a while about my walk with Him, and sorted out how I must respond to His answer to my question: “Arise, shine!” We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Our spirit His candle (Proverbs 20:27), lighted by Christ and set upon His candlestick, the church (Revelation 1:20; see Luke 8:16; 11:33). How will you shine? Arise, shine!

Praying for revival! 🙏