| June 2006: Basking in the Light and Love of the Son |
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June 2006 DevotionalOh GOSH it’s great outside. Ninety-two degrees and the sun is beaming brightly like the beautiful star it is. I am basking in the warmth of summer in Tennessee and thanking God for this beautiful weather. Woe to those of you who complain that it is too hot. You should move to Wisconsin and live in the frozen tundra for a while and then you’d appreciate your lovely state and its smothering heat! Okay, I admit I may be a bit weird. (For many reasons – weather preferences being only one of them.) I actually like sitting in a hot car. After leaving the comfort of air conditioning, I will purposely keep the windows shut in my car for a minute and bake in the penetrating heat of the sun’s rays. Ahhhhhhh. It’s heavenly. The sun gives us more than heat though – it is our primary source of natural light. Shining radiantly, its powerful streams pour light into dark places and help us see our way – even at night when its light is reflected by the moon. But did you know that we have been given another, even stronger source of light? The Bible teaches us that God’s Word is “a light for our path and a lamp for our feet” (Psalm 119:105). It keeps us safely on course, guiding our steps through this crazy and often dark world. Apart from God, we are prone to fall into temptations and succumb to the shadows of sin. But even in the darkest of hearts and homes, the permeating light of God’s presence brings the illumination of truth and the promise of life. Have you ever been in a dark place spiritually? Whether that was a fleeting feeling, a persistent sin in need of eradication, or the permeating emptiness of a life void of God’s presence, the reality and sensation of darkness powerfully controls us with fear and a lack of purpose and hope. In spiritual darkness we stumble through the pitfalls of life seemingly unaware (or apathetic, or possibly even antagonistic) to the hand of God reaching out to us in love. Thank God for not giving up on us! Thank God for His persistent Spirit, patiently waiting through our wayward determination, doggedly pursuing and drawing us to Himself -- the light. By saying yes to God, we start experiencing the blazing brightness of the true Son. We begin to see things in a new way; our souls awakened like a fresh morning to the relationship God intends us to have with himself. And we daily find our life’s path and purpose amazingly revealed by the light and love of our God. Once we have tasted this and walked in his light, we are no longer trapped in the darkness. Though its allure and mystery may still intrigue us, we see past the deception and turn again towards the light of truth. And as God has brightened our lives and enlightened our minds, he instructs us to bring light to others as well. Jesus tells us not to hide the light of his love under a bushel basket but let it glow through our words and actions. When we do life God’s way, people can see Jesus through us and be drawn to this powerful person we know as Savior and friend. For confirmation of these truths, take a few minutes to read, consider and contemplate these verses: “…it will happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. Then they will look to the earth and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish, and they will be driven into darkness.” (Isaiah 8:22) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death – upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) “The Lord is my light and salvation. Whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) “The sun shall no longer be your light by day; nor will the moon’s brightness give light to you. But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light….” (Isaiah 60:19) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life!” (John 8:12) When I was young, like most kids, I feared the dark -- especially in my bedroom at night, since that’s when all the boogeymen come out to play! I used to have a glow-in-the-dark cross that I taped to the wall, right next to my bed. Some parents use a nightlight to calm fearful hearts. Others might give their kids a flashlight. Even Motel 6 says they’ll “leave the light on for you.” (Because adults get creeped-out by the darkness too!) My glow-in-the-dark cross gave me a sense of God’s comfort and protection. But a number of years ago, I came across a Bible verse that promises something even better. It’s from Daniel 2:22 and goes like this: “He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells in him.” What I get from this verse is that God knows all about my boogeymen (real and imagined), and they can’t hide from his light. In fact, no darkness can stay dark for long when God shines his piercing light in it. So, I don’t have to be afraid, because God himself has become my Ultimate Nightlight! Is that cool or what?! I will always enjoy baking in the hot sun. But my real passion is basking in the light and love of the Son. Grab some of those rays and you will definitely have a fabulous summer! Love, |
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