Week Three - Let it Shine

Today, America inaugurates their 46^th president. With thousands of troops surrounding the Capital, it makes me wonder.  Do they always call out this level of security?  Is the new president so fearful for his life that he needs such a show of force?  Is the old president thinking of calling marshall law?  The press would have you believe any of these are possible.  

As I prayed for our country, God kept whispering in my heart, “Love not the world.” It was a good reminder for me to stay focused, to keep trusting, and to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in every purpose and act of man. Then, I turned to my 2021 devotion book. If you have never tried this one, I recommend it – At His Feet, by Chris Tiegreen.  It is published through Walk Thru the Bible/Tyndale.

Anyway, after thoughts on light and truth, he wrote, “Do not dabble in the wisdom of the world. Its interpretations of life are but shadows; its knowledge is untouched by the light of truth.” I had to agree. This world does not seek light, it does not exude light, it does not know The Light. But we do.

All through the centuries, the world has tried to make its own way, but it is still groping in darkness.  Tiegreen writes, “We live in a dark kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Our understanding was darkened (Ephesians 4:18); we are surrounded by powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12); we ourselves have done deeds of darkness (Romans 13:12); our motives are dark (1 Corinthians 4:5); and even when we see God, we see Him very dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). In fact, Paul goes so far as to say that we were darkness (Ephesians 5:8).

As I thought about the bleakness of this image, the penny dropped and my heart began to rejoice. We were darkness, but Ephesian 5:8 continues by saying, “now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

C.S. Lewis wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything.” Praise the Lord for the glorious light of the Gospel that has shined into our heart, for the Word that is a light and lamp to our path, for the glory of God that dispels darkness and illuminates truth helping us to see with the brightness of spiritual eyes.

Then, the Spirit brought Philippians 2:15, 16 to my memory. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.”

Oh, how this dark world needs to see the beauty and the brightness of the Gospel exhibited by the godly behavior and unwavering faith of the children of God.

My heart began singing, "This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine!"  How? By keeping my eyes on the light of His love, by seeking guidance from His Word, and recognizing the brightness of His presence because in Him, there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).