Showing posts with label shine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shine. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Light or Shadows


There wasn't much light as I came to the street that led to the park. One of the largest oak trees still standing is in the front of the Episcopal church. The moon shined through the shadows of the tree.


The LORD always speaks to me on my visits to the park. The church sign spoke to me. Is our life a light in the darkness of the world or are we as a shadow? The Old Testament was Gods light but it also had shadows and types of the true light that was to be manifest. Jesus is the light of the world. We are to shine forth his light of goodness and truth.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 


The light of the moon made a veil of light on the pond surface. Our light must come from within, the light of God from the Holy Spirit.

1Jn 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 
1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 
1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 
1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 


A small child was feeding the ducks from the dock. I gave my bread to her parents and the little girl was delighted to feed the ducks and Randy the goose with the encouragement of her mother. This was a good lesson of sharing from our abundance. Our LORD shares his abundance and all good things with us.

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 


The ducks were as ghosts in the night time light. There is a spirit world that we sometimes see through our spiritual eyes.

Deu 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. 


Randy is there too, but something else happened that troubled me. In the distance was a struggle, a black duck had been introduced into the pond. At one time there were four white ducks and over time there is now only one white duck left who acts as the shepherd over the Mallard ducks. Often I would see a line of ducks being led by the white duck. The black duck attacked the white duck as the other ducks were feeding. Then I saw the black duck chasing a female mallard away from the flock. The shepherd white duck followed seeking to protect the female from the black duck. This is not about racism concerning ducks, but it reminded me of a larger picture where Christians are being persecuted worldwide by Muslim extremists. They kill and destroy the family of God. We are to pray for these who are being persecuted.Their angels go beside them, but the LORD wants us to pray. There is power in the spirit world and our prayers are the power of God for the needs we see. Pray for the souls of the lost and for strength, peace and protection for the Christians and the suffering people of the world to come to Jesus.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Arise and Shine

When we used to visit my folks before they went home to the LORD, my mother would say to us "you bring life to us." I remember back when I was a young man in the hospital; my mom and dad would come to be with me every day and when my two older brothers would visit, they brought life and strength to me. When our ministry team brings music and the gospel message twice a week to the rest home services, some of them say to us that we bring life to them. Jesus is our light and the life that brought us the light of God. His presence continues in those he has saved. We are his light in this sin darkened world.


Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.


This refers to Israel in the Millennium, when the Lord comes in the midst of his chosen people Israel, but the application is for now, to those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. Look around and we see the darkness covering the earth. Sin and shame and fear and despair cover the land, but we are not just from the land, we are made heavenly creations in Christ Jesus, his ambassadors and light bearers.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What then? As ambassadors for Christ, we are not to be hidden in the darkness, but to get up and get out and shine for Jesus. Not only shine in appearance but with the word of life. We are not to be in darkness and gloom, we are to be like Jesus: full of life. He has arisen and his glory will be seen on us for we are in Christ by faith and the giving of his Holy Spirit. As He shined at the Mount of transfiguration, so we shall shine with a holy glow from within. We also are to associate with others of his light, encouraging one another, showing that we are one people of God; the Church of Jesus Christ and the chosen of God.

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.


The darkness needs the light from Jesus. Those who are of God, will come out of darkness; those who remain, prefer the darkness. Politically correct people of darkness, may persecute those of the light. It is God who makes the laws, not man. Any law that transgresses the law of God is sin and darkness. God is not mocked, for the light shines and that which is true will gladly respond to that light, and not come against it.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.