Let Your Light So Shine
.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
1 John 1:5-10
5. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 6. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; 7. 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 cleanses us from all sin. 8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
“Light” is clearly the theme for the week! I didn’t realize that until this morning, but it seems pretty apparent. I had determined the scripture I would reflect on, but had to come into the other computer, as we’re dealing with “network issues.” When I logged on to my e-mail subscription the verse from Matthew was waiting for me – confirmation that I had tuned in correctly! I’ve been a bit fixated on this concept of light and dark because it’s been discussed in several of my readings in the past month or so. I imagine that some of the beautiful sunrises I’ve witnessed have spurred me to dig a little deeper on the topic. Wayne Dyer tells us, in
The Power of Intention, that light “absorbs” the dark when we flip the switch to ON. The darkness doesn’t “go anywhere,” it’s just absorbed, so that it changes instantly into light.
Isn’t that what Christ did for us on the cross? He absorbed, dissolved, wiped out all our sin, and in his own transformation from man back into God, he transformed us into new creatures! That’s such a powerful image! We died with him, as creatures living in the darkness of a sin-filled world. When he rose, we rose also, as new creatures, now walking in the light of the resurrection. Thousands of years of being separated from God were erased, eliminated, eradicated through that one act of perfect submission and love. When you watch a sunrise, the night sky fading, stars vanishing, birds chirping, “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” it’s like being born anew each day!
In a perfect world, there would be no need for us to “shine our light.” But the world is still full of imperfection, sin and suffering. We must shine the light of Christ to the world by how we live our lives—shattering the darkness of this world and offering the hope of the promise we have received because of Him. How can we help it!? We have been saved, reborn, renewed, and will be one day made perfect in Him! We’re not perfect yet! If we were, our message wouldn’t be the same, would it? Now we can simply say, I am a sinner, I was born a sinner, I live as a sinner, but when I die, I will die as a perfect creation in Christ.
Isn’t that a wonderful promise to offer the world. We’re not perfect! Far from it. But God’s grace, demonstrated by Christ on the Cross is so vast, so amazing, so incredible, that He loves us anyway!
I hope today you’ll let your light shine brightly, giving glory to God! And that everyone you meet will know of the love and grace of our Father in Heaven
Mary
