Monday, November 10, 2008

LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-10—For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Forget about finding the switch—it’s not mounted on your forehead! You won’t find replacement bulbs in church. If you know and follow Jesus, if He’s your Lord, you are a light. And if you didn’t know it already, you are a special light! But then unless you are deeply in love with God and obeying Him, you will not understand how brilliant God intends for you to be!

I believe the body of Christ is a symphony orchestra of light. We are uniquely made, gifted, and called to serve our Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit is our Conductor. The Word of God is our sheet music. And if you’re not playing, the song is not sounding the way it’s supposed to.

Darkness battles the light. The songs that originate in man’s heart, or hold the fury of Satan’s rebellious script pulsate like some unending heavy metal song. In the end despair is the final score. But the darkness is also attracted to the light. How many sit yearning for the chance to play in God’s concert hall unsoothed by what they’ve been taught, unsure how to proceed?

“Everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (Eph.5:13). When you play what God writes you sound incredible! You reveal what others without Jesus are missing. You encourage, inspire and warm those in need of Jesus—the Light of the world! If your light is strong, people will be effected in ways you never dreamed! The Lord will use you to draw others to Himself. Conversely, if your light is dim, the song of hope comes across flat or sharp and no one around you is likely to be drawn to the Composer.

Whether the Spirit leads you to play in harmony, to take the melody, to be unnoticed in the string section, to crash powerful cymbals, is not important. God is not preoccupied with what instrument we play, or what section we sit in, or who notices us. His desire is that you and I would know Him. The deeper we love Him the more intense our light will glow to His glory! Have you ever used a Coleman lantern? When you pump it the light becomes exceedingly brighter! Hmmm. Let your light shine that people may see . . .

Inspiration

Each of us has a particular possession of light that no one else can have, and if we refuse to take our possession, everyone else will suffer . . . There is a possession of light that the Spirit distributes to each one according to the perfect wisdom of God . . . As we participate in the light and the Son of God is manifested in us in our particular setting, there will be marvelous blessing to all the people round about.—Oswald Chambers in Our Brilliant Heritage