SHINE!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. —Philippians 2:14-16

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. —Daniel 12:3

             Brothers and sisters, fellow followers/disciples of Jesus, we live “in a warped and crooked generation.”  Yes, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (I John 5:19).  It is a world that is full for corruption, perverseness, wickedness and yet we are called by Jesus to live “blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault.’”  We do so and “will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”  Let us give “thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14). God’s Word is our foundation.  What He says is what truly counts and we need to be dependent on Him and lovingly obedient to Him.  Truly, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”  Oh, that we would be like that!

             Decades ago, I was out for an early morning prayer walk.  It was a crisp fall morning with a crystal-clear sky.  It was a new moon morning and the stars were shining brightly.  As I reflected that morning I said, “Lord, I don’t have to be like that very bright shining star that is readily seen, but please let me at least be like that small dim star shining in the background.  Let me at least shine like that for You.”  As I reflect on that morning so many years ago, I was not saying that I did not want to have a great impact for my Lord, but that I wanted to be so and did not have to be noticed in this world.  It would be enough to be noticed by Him.  And so, Dear Father, may that be the case by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Yes, so be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B4f5tOyGFk&list=RD8B4f5tOyGFk&start_radio=1