Missions Moment
Title: Light
Topic: Jesus, the Light of the World
Description:
Today and tomorrow, October 18-19, over one billion Hindu people around the world will celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. As one of the most popular Hindu festivals, Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. We are reminded that the world longs for the hope and security that light brings. Yet as the Hindu people gather to celebrate the Festival of Lights, they do so without the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.
The Lord God has provided spiritual light to each of us through His Son, Jesus. Isaiah 9:2 says this of the coming Messiah, who we as Christians believe is Jesus: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” The language of Isaiah in this verse is poetic: darkness signifies adversity, despair, gloom and evil while light signifies prosperity, peace, and joy. Jesus came as that light, the hope for Israel and for the whole world, and these words are spoken by Jesus in John 8:12: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John expounds on this truth in 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
As Christians, we join in prayer for the beautiful Hindu people as they celebrate the Festival of Lights. We pray that the Light of the World would cast out all spiritual darkness and bring the Hindu people the true hope and peace they seek.*
Additional Resources:
Video about Hinduism: https://www.prayercast.com/hinduism.html
Video about India: https://prayercast.com/india.html
Video about The Salvation Army’s work in India: https://intotheworld.salvationarmymedia.org/joy-to-the-world.html Select segment 4, “Joy in Partnership.” Time marker 3:44 to 4:39
Songs: The Light Has Come, Here I am to Worship, Let Your Light Shine, This Little Light of Mine
*Note: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There are 7 billion people in the world, and regardless of what they believe, Jesus loves them all. This purpose of this mission minute is to invite audiences to join in learning and praying for those who follow the Hindu religion. This people group is representative of the billions of people around the world who are in spiritual darkness and do not know the Light of the World.