Just a small flame...

“Later in one of his talks, Jesus said to the people, ‘I am the light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.’”         John 8:12  LIVING BIBLE

The dictionary explains “darkness” as: “…entirely or partly without light, neither giving nor receiving light.”

Who among us has not been afraid of the dark- even a little bit? Why is that? It may or may not be a learned fear. Most of the time it just seems like instinct. Spiritually speaking, instinctual fear of the darkness may save our lives.

If you have ever been caught unaware in total darkness, you know it’s not necessarily a pleasant experience. The last thing you want to do is to take a step forward and find your way with no point of reference. No one wants to stumble and fall. All concept of distance and depth are taken from you, changing your reality.

But when you open a door to a darkened room, and a little light gets in, it’s no longer dark! The same is with our hearts. When we are without God in our life, we experience spiritual darkness. The light of Jesus is our point of reference. It is up to us to crack the door so Jesus and the words He speaks can bring light.

He gives us the light and wants us to share it in return.

There are plenty of influences in this world that encourage darkness. Our job is to reflect the light that can dispel it. The little things we do and say may be the light someone needs to illuminate their heart and mind. Remember, even a small candle can illumine a dark room.

Father in heaven, Please use me to be a light, even in a small way, in someone else’s life today.

How Bright is Your Light?

"For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true."  Ephesians 5: 8 & 9

Living as people of light is the call of this scripture. Sounds easy enough. We just need to behave, be nice and do a good deed here and there.

This is not the definition of the kind of light mentioned here. The greek translation of this word "light" here mentions "luminousness" and "fire".

It's not enough just to not do bad things. To illuminate is to bring attention to something - to make something easier to see. And fire brings to mind an intense light, one that catches your eye. That is what we are to be - a light strong enough to call attention to Jesus. Our attraction is the fire that burns intensely enough to make others take notice. Blending in is not escaping the darkness. Only living in the light will do that.

A plant that doesn't get the proper proportion of light will not bear fruit. The world needs much more of the fruit that we have to offer through the Lord. We are called not to be Chameleons, blending into our surroundings for our own protection, but the fire that calls the world to come and see the Jesus that lives in us.

Lord, make me burn bright with the light of your righteousness that I may draw others to You.

Easter's Contrasts

I was listening to Chuck Swindoll on the radio yesterday. He told about how his church has a Good Friday service each year. They come into a darkened sanctuary - the theme being the dark tomb of Jesus. They meditate on how significant Jesus' death was and how final it must have seemed to those who mourned. Then the lights come on and the rejoicing starts as they celebrate the power of the resurrection - the light.

I thought that was a great idea. We don't always think about the contrast of those days - darkness and light, death and life, sorrow and great joy. How confused his followers must have been. How happy they must have been to have Him appear to them again when they thought all was lost. The contrast of their emotions would be enough to rock their world.

What about you? Do you experience the Easter holiday with intensity? Are your thoughts of Jesus in the dark cold tomb? Do you recognize the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead?

What a blessing that we have reason to rejoice.
Happy Easter everyone.