Category Archives: Light

Child Raising, Child Rearing, Comfort, Encouragement, Faith, Family, God's Will, Grace, Heaven, Light, Love, Parenting, Testimony

SPOTLIGHT

2 TIMOTHY 1:10 

“but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”  

I don’t know why, but every time I see the Greek word phaneroo in the New Testament I think of a spotlight. The phrase “has been revealed” in today’s verse is that word. It can be translated “manifested” as well. It means to make visible with light. 

People spotlight stuff all the time. They spotlight the preacher on the stage. They spotlight the front door at Christmas to show off the wreath or welcome sign. Some people spotlight their whole house. Whatever they decide to spotlight, it is to make sure others see it without a problem. You don’t spotlight something you are trying to hide. 

APPLICATION 

So, I said to myself, “Self, what is Paul telling us in this verse? What is God spotlighting?” I believe it is His grace. His grace is spotlighted through the resurrection of Jesus, which “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”  How do you explain this to your children? 

Go into their room with a flashlight. Ask them to pick out something in their room which everyone needs to see to get out of that room (door, door handle). Now cut off the lights and look around the room with the flashlight until you see it. Turn on the lights and ask them if they think God wants everyone to find the door to heaven. That’s why He sent Jesus to die and rise again. He is the spotlighted door that leads to heaven. 

Now, that may sound super simplistic, but children need concrete, visible illustrations sometimes. I am sure someone could take that illustration and destroy it theologically if they tried. That’s okay. The truth still stands – God is not trying to hide the way to heaven. He has manifested it (spotlighted) for everyone to see. Will you shine for Him? 

I proudly shine my testimony which is a direct result of Your manifested power of grace in and through Jesus Christ. Help me to always get out of the way of that door to glory and let others see it clearly in You. 

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christ's Return, Encouragement, Glory, Heaven, Light, Parenting

DON’T GO THERE

1 TIMOTHY 6:16

“who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

Unapproachable! Don’t even think about going there! The brilliance of our Lord will be blinding, yet we shall one day behold Him. This Greek word for “unapproachable” is only used right here in this verse. It literally means don’t go. Why? Why would the Lord dwell in unapproachable light? Why would He want to keep us away?

Because as mortal men, we cannot bear the glory of God. His holiness would instantly wipe us away. So, we are being protected. He is not trying to keep us away. He is trying to keep us safe. We will be bathed in the light. We just can’t go into it. We are not worthy. Only He can dwell in it.

APPLICATION

Do you have things in your home that are off limits? I bet you do. How about the fuse box? The power source for your house is in there. Your children can benefit from the power source, but they cannot approach the source itself. That’s a pretty close analogy for kids. 

There have to be boundaries for kids. There will be a day when they can have access to any area of the house. The limitations now are not meant to punish them. They are meant to protect them. As they mature, they will gain more and more access. In the same way, as we mature in our walk with Christ, He reveals more and more of Himself to us.

Are you ready for the unapproachable light? Boy, I am. I can’t wait to see Him. His glory will be amazing. But guess what? It is now. Don’t wait until eternity to be blown away. Let His brilliance amaze you.

O God of glory, Your light is ablaze. Let it shine through me so others can see You. One day I will dwell in Your light forever.

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