Scripture: Psalm 36

Key verse: (9) For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Reflection: Children of light is a name the Bible gives you, child of God.  It’s an intriguing image that’s worth us playing with.  We could put: bearer of light on our LinkedIn page when it asks for a list of skills and under hobbies we could type: shining.  On every college application you could justifiably and with theological certainty declare you are very, very bright.  Like, ten thousand lumen bright.

I know, we don’t need more reasons in our selfie crazed lives to feel even more glossy or inflated.  But in real and important ways, you child of light, shine.  We can’t help it.  Try to turn it off – you can’t.  You are like a window with no curtains – you cannot help your luminescence because you are not it’s source.  The light of the world, that light the deep darkness can never overcome, shines upon you and through you.  Whether you feel pretty or pretty ugly, you are always radiant.  Oh sure, people can be dim and dull I suppose, but God yet shines through.

In God’s light, we see light.  Which is to say in part that to see ourselves and this world in God’s light is to see ourselves and this world as it should intimately and always be seen: bathed in light and shining for all to see.

Prayer:

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father’s glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth your word

Lord, and let there be light

Author: Derek Macleod

[Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved].