Darkness
I don’t know what you think but it seems to me that the darkness is getting darker. You may be saying, “What?! How can darkness get darker?” Well, it depends on what kind of darkness we’re talking about. I believe there is more than one kind of darkness. There is the physical darkness of night and then there is spiritual darkness.
When I look around at this world, which I see very little since I don’t read or watch the news, there is so much darkness. Things have gotten so bad it is hard to believe any human being would do some of the things that people are doing. There are also so many people who are suffering because they have no hope.
Light up the world.
For those of us that have Christ in our hearts need to become a light in the darkness. We need to let our light shine. As Christ said in Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is a heaven.”
We are an influence on all people, whether good or bad. God wants us to reflect His character to others through our obedience to Him. When we are in full surrender to God the trials or bad things that take place will not have the same effect on us because we have a hope within us. People will be attracted to us because they see peace in our lives. As it says in Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
How does God form light?
What do I mean by this question? Well, what I am really thinking about is the work that God does in our lives that prepares us for being able to be a light that shines. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” John 8:12. We become reflectors as we follow Him.
Isaiah 45:7 says, “I form the light, and create darkness…” I looked up the word form in the Hebrew translation and it carries with it the idea of ‘squeezing into shape’ and means to mold into a form, especially as a potter. This is exactly what the Lord wants to do in our lives so that we can be a true light in the darkness of this world. As we shine for Him, the darkness is created (revealed). Without light, we don’t even know that there is darkness. It is the light that reveals the darkness. The process of becoming light is by allowing God to shape us. “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” Isaiah 64:8.
In what ways can we make our lights brighter?
- We need to be sure to turn away from darkness. It makes me think of the story of Saul who became Paul. He was exposed to the light and he realized his sin. He confessed to God his wrongs and repented. God was able to use him in a mighty way. We cannot help others into the light unless we have the light ourselves. And our job is, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18
- Expose everything to the light. When we are living according to God’s Word we expose everything to light. Which we cannot do this unless…
- We are looking to Jesus. When we are in full surrender to Jesus and our lives are clear of any known sin we can be a light in the darkness. We have to stay connected. Psalms 89:15, “Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.”
- We need to have a forgiving spirit. If we are not forgiving others we will not be shining for God. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2: 9-11.
- We need God’s Word engrafted into our lives, which is done by memorizing. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalms 119: 105, 130.
- We need to put on the armor of light as it states in, Romans 13:11, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us, therefore, cast off the words of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” We do not have time to spend in darkness, time is short.
- There are many more things that could be said on this subject. What I have shared here are just a few things for us to think about. We live in a very dark world at a very dark time. There are so many in the darkness that need to know about the light.
Dear Father,
We need You. Forgive us for where we have fallen short of glorifying Your name and being the light You would have us to be. Continue to guide us as we surrender all to You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Shine for Him today.
Love you all.
What have you found to help you in shining for Jesus? I would love to hear your thoughts.