June 28

The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. — Ps 118:27 BSB

When God shows us light, He reveals light both about Himself and about ourselves. He shows us who He is, stamping something of Himself upon our consciences. He reveals something of His glorious character to our souls, and by the Holy Spirit’s work, brings us into His presence to receive life from Christ’s inexhaustible fullness. In this light, we see and feel that we are dealing with a God who searches hearts, a God who hates sin, a God who will not be mocked or taken lightly.

In this light, we realize that every secret of our hearts and every thought of our minds is exposed before Him. We see ourselves as we truly are in His pure and holy eyes—a mass of sin, filth, and corruption, utterly helpless, without strength, wisdom, or righteousness, without any goodness of our own.

But when God shows us this light, He also reveals the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. He not only shows us what we are by nature, but He also shows us what we are by grace. He brings us into some understanding of Himself as a God of perfect justice, but He also reveals Himself as a God of mercy. Through this revelation, we come to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. In doing so, we experience the springing up of spiritual life in our souls, each according to the measure of grace we have received.