Sunday, July 10, 2022

Light


 I'm always excited to see where God takes me when he gives me a word upon waking. I no longer question, "Is that you God?" I just roll with it. He's in everything! If it's meant to be it will be. If not...well....not....Here goes.

Light - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.

My first thought was of a lamp. We don't usually have a lamp sitting on a table for decoration.....errr....hmmmm......in my very next thought I realized I actually DO have an old antique lamp in my office that is just that. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyways, typically a lamp has the purpose of producing light. But it needs two things....it needs to be plugged in to a working electrical outlet AND have a working lightbulb in it. Only then can you have light. The light from the lamp has purpose too. It provides illumination so you can see. The illumination isn't for one specific need...it can be used for many things....reading a book, checking on a sleeping baby, cooking, watching TV, crafting, working on a car. I'm chuckling because I can see my husband and I, long ago, working under the kitchen sink using a lamp without the shade for light. How frustrating is it when we don't have light? We are dependent on it. We need it. It is an absolute essential every single day.

And who doesn't love the illumination of the sun? But when the sun goes down, as it does everyday, the other kind of light becomes the necessary source.

There is another essential source of light for our lives. A light that illuminates our hearts and minds. A light that exposes our thoughts, feelings and actions. That light is Jesus Christ. You might call him our spiritual light. Some know him, some don't. Some want to know him....some don't.

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."
John 1:3‭-‬4

In the Bible, light is not only a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace and hope but of Jesus Christ himself.

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 8:12

He is the light in the darkness (Psalm 18:28), he is the light to my path (Psalm 119:105), he is the light of the world (John 9:5), he CREATED light (Genesis 1:3), he is the Father of lights (James 1:17). GOD IS LIGHT (1 John 1:5).

Though we cannot truly live without this light, many do for various reasons:

*I don't need it
*It's not essential
*I can't see it
*It's not useful
*I don't understand the purpose
*It's not REAL light
*I'm not dependent on it
*I can live without it

And even those who know this light, often don't make the effort to KNOW this light.

*I'm so busy
*I overslept
*I can do it tomorrow
*I was distracted
*No time
*Life happens

There can be a laisazz faire attitude about walking in the light of Jesus Christ.

Let's go back to the essentials of a working lamp and see the unique similarities to our spiritual light.....

#1 - it needs to be plugged in. We NEED to be plugged in. To be plugged in means you're in the know, in touch with what is going on, and very well-informed. Yes! We need to be in the know, in touch and well informed about God's Word and what it means. How it instructs us...how it gives light to our path. How we are to walk on the path....

#2 - a working lightbulb. That is ME! At the flip of a switch I should be ready! Ready to be useful to the kingdom. Useful to share the light. To illuminate Christ to others. If there is no bulb in the lamp it is useless. If the bulb is burned out it is also useless. By studying and meditating on God's Word we keep our lights burning brightly.

We are dependent on it. We need it. It is an absolute essential every single day.

"My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times."
Psalms 119:20 

Consumed is defined as having so much of a feeling that it affects everything you do. 

Walking with the Lord should affect everything I do. It should consume me. 

Does it? 

As the sun comes up this morning and gives light to my day and as I prepare to stand with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm so thankful. Thankful I've been given another day to praise the King of Light and serve His kingdom.

Happy Celebration Sunday!

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