Category Archives: Shining

Bible, Darkness, Enlighten, Light, Scripture, Shining

BE THE LIGHT

ROMANS 2:19

“and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness,”

Did you know that darkness cannot quench light? Even the smallest light can pierce the darkness. Ever been camping on a cloudy night with no stars or moon? It gets pretty dark. But light just one lantern or start a small fire and watching the darkness flee. We have a calling to be light in the darkness, to drive away the encroaching darkness, to dispel any absence of light. Today’s verse is a challenge to us.

This is the third verse of Paul’s address to the Jews which began with an “if” back in verse 17. In today’s verse he challenges the Jews to be “a guide” and “a light.” It was unfortunate that these Jews were walking blind in the darkness themselves (we’ll see that addressed in verses 21-23). The word for “guide” is hodégos and is only used four other times in the New Testament. Three of those times it is used by Jesus when He refers to the Pharisees as “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14; 23:16, 24). It makes you wonder if perhaps Paul heard Him say this.

APPLICATION

But let’s focus on the word “light.” That’s the Greek word phós. Of the 73 times that word is used in the New Testament, John uses it 33 times in his gospel, 1 John and Revelation. Do you think light was important for John? I do. He walked with The Light for three years. He saw The Light transformed before his very eyes. He saw The Light seemingly quenched at the crucifixion only to burst forth in brilliance once again at the resurrection. Light was important to him.

In John 1:4-5 we read, “4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.” I really like verse 9 in this first chapter of John. “This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person.” Did you see that? The true Light enlightens us. We have His light within us!

So, why don’t we shine more brightly? Because we have allowed the world and our own sins to darken the lense of our soul. We are afraid to shine brightly. We are ashamed of the Light. Brothers and sisters, cast off any dimming element in your life today and allow the light of Jesus to shine brightly in a dark world. Then watch the darkness flee.

Light of the world, You shine down into darkness, Open my eyes, let me see.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Darkness, Light, Scripture, Shining

KEEP SHINING YOUR LIGHT

PHILIPPIANS 2:15

“so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

Have you ever had to prepare for encroaching storms at night? What is one of the first things you get together? Light! You may gather flashlights or lanterns. You may have some candles for such occasions. You don’t want to be caught in the dark in the middle of a storm. You need light to show you the way if you need to escape. You need light to keep your children from being scared.

We are “lights in the world” according to today’s verse. The first part of the verse tells you why. We are “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.” That’s dark. That can be scary – unless you have the light. We have The Light – Jesus Christ. So, we have the responsibility to shine the light of Christ wherever we go and whatever situation we face.

APPLICATION

If you haven’t figured out that this verse applies to you as a follower of Christ, just stop reading now. Just kidding. But you should see how important this is. Let me show you something in the verse that I think needs explaining a bit. In this translation (NASB), it reads, “you appear.” The original Greek is the word phaino which includes the idea of shining, to shed light.

The best thing to know about the darkness is that it cannot put out light. Light pierces the darkness and sends it running. In Matthew 24:27 this word phaino is used to describe lightning as it flashes across the sky. Do you think you and I could appear that way? Could we flash the light of Jesus? Could we brighten our world with the light which lives inside us?

Maybe you are in a dark place right now. Maybe life has thrown you some curve balls. You may feel you are deep in a pit. There is no pit so deep or dark where the light of Christ can’t shine. As a follower of Christ, you have that light within you. Stop relying on your own light, your own duracells. Rely on His inexhaustible light. Rely on the Giver of Light!

O Lord, I need Your light to brighten the world around me. Use me as Your lantern to show others the way.

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Abiding, Appearance, Bible, Darkness, Light, Scripture, Shining

LIGHTS OUT

ZECHARIAH 14:6

“On that day there will be no light; the luminaries will die out.” 

Once when I was preparing to fly home from Nairobi, Kenya, all the power at the airport went out. That’s not extremely unusual for Kenya, but it is for the airport. They have backup generators that normally kick in. Not this time, and this was at around 11:00 at night. Let me tell you – it was DARK. I instantly grabbed my bag, hugged it and sat motionless. I could not see my hand in front of my face.

“On that day” we are told in today’s verse, when all the activity just mentioned in verses 1-5 happens, all the light will go out in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. All the stars, the moon, the sun, all the “luminaries” will go dark. Isaiah says it well it 13:9-10. “9 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light.”

APPLICATION

Prepare yourself. That’s all I can say. We live in a dark world riddled with sin. But that darkness will seem as light on this day of judgment. But I have good news. We are the light of the world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16, “‘14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’”

Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” Will you shine today? Will you light up the darkness around you? How do you do that? Simply, be Jesus. Live with joy. As Bonhoeffer said, “Live your life as a believer so unbelievers will question their unbelief.”

All you have to do is submit to Jesus today. Let Him live through you. After all, it’s not your light that is shining. It is His light that shoots its beams out your mouth and out your eyes. You don’t believe me? Try it. And look for others around you who are shining and encourage them today.

Father of lights, shine through me in a dark world. 

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