As the sun slipped down over the horizon to the west a big, beautiful orb of light appeared in the east. The moon was glowing, shedding soft light where I stood in the gathering night. That nightlight is not nearly as bright as the sun, but it a reassuring presence in the night sky, something country people understand better than those who live in the artificial light of the city. But, the moon is only a reflector! Unlike the sun, a glowing ball of burning gases, that rock has no light giving energy. It sheds light on us by reflecting the rays of sun.
This, Christian, is what we do! We bring light to a darkened world. Jesus is the Light of the World. Our mission is to be light, but not our own. When we become His disciples "we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT) "For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NLT)
Do you aspire to be a light-bearer?
Do others see a little more clearly when you are around?
Do they find hope, feel peace, and experience affirming love
as Christ’s radiance is reflected from you?
These things happen when we are living near Him, regularly worshipping, mediating on His goodness, choosing submission to Him. Through the disciplines of the Spirit, the grime that dims His light in us is scrubbed away and the radiance released. This is not a grim duty, but a great delight. Nothing in life can compare to the experience of seeing someone come to Christ Jesus because the light reflected in us helped them find their way to His love. It is not our mission to critique, condemn, and chasten the world in which we. God’s Spirit is the One who convicts. We are to shine!
The metaphor changes in this passage, but the principle is
the same. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal
procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the
knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are
being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death;
to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?" (2
Corinthians 2:14-16, NIV) The fragrance of
Christ should cling to us, spreading wherever we go. Not all people will be glad for it, however.
Some will experience the life of the Spirit in us as a reminder of their own ‘deadness,’
of judgment to come.
Pray today to be light, not of your own successes and triumphs, but a reflector of the goodness of God, overflowing with thanksgiving, filled with a supernatural peace, marked by a love that of heavenly origin.
Here is a word from the Word. Let it be a challenge and
guide for your life today. "Therefore,
my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now
much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his
good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may
become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and
depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
(Philippians 2:12-15, NIV)
(Video of this blog at this link)
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O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Through death into life everlasting
He passed and we follow Him there
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are
His Word shall not fail you He promised
Believe Him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell
Helen H. Lemmel
© Words: Public Domain
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