Glow in the Dark

And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, [they put] it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.—Matthew 5:14-16, The Voice

On our best days, we head out into the sunrise with a prayer on our lips to be aware of our surroundings and to be a carrier of that Light that's mysteriously within—that "Christ in you, the hope of glory" kind of Light—that illumines dark places, moods, situations, and Facebook political rants. Other times, despite our best intentions, we get sucked into the routine of the day, and climb into bed at night wondering if we just wasted 24 hours of Light-shining. The adversary whispers things like, “You don’t have what it takes, you’re too preoccupied with you, forget about the whole Light-shining thing and move on.” Another voice suggests, “Maybe you need a different/better mission field—one where you don’t have to be focused on doing daily tasks and assignments so you can focus instead on cool stuff like ministry.”

On such days, it’s good to remember that it doesn’t take the world’s best sermon to be a Light. Sometimes, the best ones are those that begin by sticking around and simply listening to someone’s story rather than moving on to the next thing on your list. It’s also good to know that, in addition to His Word and through other people, God has a funny way of communicating and relating to us through the things we love—like music and creation…

On a night drive last week, one in which the last few miles had been spent listening to those ping-ponging negative whispers and suggestions as though observing the chaos of a presidential debate, there was also a contrary, uplifting, toe-tapping thing going on in my radio. I had a sense it was God speaking through Jason Gray:

“Hey, tune that other stuff out and listen to Me instead!”

As I pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door, I did the usual glance to the heavens to admire the stars and wonder of the New England night sky. And the moment I looked up, a shooting star zoomed right over my head toward the southwest. Glorious! And what are the odds? But even more amazing than that was when I “just so happened” to remember what that Jason Gray song was saying in the background of the loud, negative debate:

“Like a flame, like a burning star, you can shine right where you are — He made you to glow in the dark.”

To all fellow Light-carriers: Selah.