SHINE!

SHINE!

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. —Daniel 12:3

            Is it your desire to shine, to be like a star?  Years ago I was out for a walk in the early morning.  It was a beautiful morning.  The moon had set and the sky was crisp and clear.  The stars were shining in all their glory.  As I gazed at the stars I said, “Lord, I don’t have to be like one of those big, bright stars, but may I shine at least like one of those little stars for You.”  I want to shine for Him is all that matters, to bring glory to Him as those stars in creation do (Psalm 19:1-5).

            To shine for Him is to be wise.  Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge that comes with experience.  Oh, to be wise for His glory, to shine for Him in this area.  Then, to shine like the stars is to “turn many to righteousness.”  No man is righteous in himself.  Man needs to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ— “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). Young’s Literal Translation of Romans 4:25 says, “who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous.”  Again, “Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:8).  And again we read in Titus 3:7 “that having been declared righteous by His grace, heirs we may become according to the hope of life age-during.”

            Praise God for His righteousness and declaring us righteous through Jesus.  Now with great gratitude may we shine bright like the stars. Just as He named and knows every star, so He also knows us.  Just as He causes those stars in the night sky to shine, so He also does with us.  Shine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkxoTmKpDcU

Yes, Dear Father, may I shine for You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!