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Monday December 30 - Beacons for Jesus
“You are the light of the world... people light a lamp... put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15
Have you ever been in a totally black place where you could see nothing and felt panic, isolation and disorientation? It might have been a physical place, or perhaps a dark experience that overwhelmed your mind and emotions, making you long for a light to lead you out of those deathly shadows into a place of hope and peace.
Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). God himself came as a human being to overcome darkness and all its works and bring us into his true light. Although ‘people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil’ (John 3:19), ‘to those who embraced him and took hold of his name he gave authority to become the children of God!’ (John 1:12, the Passion translation).
God has adopted us so that we can also shine, just like Jesus ‘the true light’ (John 1:9), like a city on a hill, a lamp on a stand. As our lives are lit up by his radiance we begin to reflect the beauty of Jesus to a darkened world. Today, he invites us to be lamps of grace and truth where we live. What might the Holy Spirit be doing in your life in order to make this a reality?
Lord Jesus, please first deliver me from any darkness in my life and then fill me with the desire to be your light in the world. Amen.
Tuesday December 31 - Living for God’s glory!
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Jesus says that our ‘good deeds’ will cause others to see how glorious God is. There are three biblical words for ‘good’; kalos, meaning beautiful, attractive and whole, is what (in Genesis chapter 1) God declared creation to be; chrestos refers to being useful, fitting and profitable; agathos means the moral excellence flowing from God which blesses others. Such ‘good deeds’ display the fruit of the Holy Spirit in someone, reflect Christ’s sacrificial love, and are directed by wisdom from above. But oh, how woefully we fail to live by that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22,23), Christ’s compassion (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and heaven’s wisdom: pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17)!
The 1646 Westminster Shorter Catechism says that ‘Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.’ But how can sinful human beings do this? I think the answer works backwards. The more we gaze on the glory of God, in whom all the above qualities perfectly dwell, the more we remind ourselves that Jesus died for us, and the more we ask the Spirit to transform us, his peace and joy filling us makes us ‘light and salt’. Do you believe real change is possible in your innermost being, so that what you do will truly glorify your Father in heaven?
Father, please reveal how pure and amazing you are; and as we worship, may we see more of Jesus and become increasingly like him. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY