Devo Week 12

A God-revealing Light - Living in Color

Sometimes words themselves are not enough. A familiar saying in English is "shine a little light upon the subject." In this devotion, we highlighted that rainbows are location-specific. This means rainbows are not seen everywhere at once. Similarly, analogies and metaphors within cultures can "shine a little light" and help bring revelation and understanding of the Gospel.

Key Concept: Using Metaphors and Analogies

The prophecy of Simeon is packed with this concept. The Gospel of the Kingdom is to bring revelation of the person of Jesus Christ from each ethnic perspective. This is how Jesus will become a God-revealing light among the non-Jewish nations.

The life of Jesus represents light to all people groups. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies within the Jewish context, as they were the specific people group through which the incarnation took place. However, there are numerous analogies and metaphors among Gentile people groups that reveal Jesus as a "God revealing light" to them.

For example, the Akha and Akeu cultures center around rice. They even say 'rice is life.' This became a powerful metaphor in helping reveal Jesus as the 'rice of life.' Let's be clear: the Gospel is not about a diet change, but rather transformation. (Rom. 14:17) God is not after worldwide diet control. God is after relationship with all peoples through His Son Jesus. How we present Him is paramount in whether we bring light (understanding) or darkness (misunderstanding).

To the Akha and Akeu, every call to the dining table is a call to eat rice. Their calendars revolve around planting, growing, tending and harvesting rice. To call Jesus the 'rice of life' is to reveal Jesus in their midst. This is and was Good News to them! As we began using rice and tea for holy communion, there were many tears and heartfelt prayers as the light of Jesus was being revealed among them. The metaphor does not change the person of Jesus, but rather brings greater revelation from their location.

The Gospel is actually the person of Jesus and His story upon the earth. God has purchased men from every tribe, language, people and nation. (Rev. 5:9) It is our privilege to join with Him on His mission!

Key Word Definitions:

1. analogy (noun)

-- a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

2. metaphor (noun)

-- a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

-- a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.

Excerpt from Devotional 12 with highlighted words:

“As we began to present Jesus as the ‘rice of life’ to them, their eyes became wide open to the meaning of the Gospel, and they realized that God was ‘near to them’ (Acts 17:27). This one analogy or metaphor helped their visual acuity, with Jesus becoming a ‘God-revealing light’ to them, a non-Jewish people. Sharing Jesus as the ‘rice of life’ placed Jesus in the very center of their story. God became the ‘author and finisher’ of their unique story, changing nothing about Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, but simply highlighting a different color of the same truth from their vantage point.”

Scripture: Luke 2:32

“A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.” (The Message)