Category: Transformation in the Light

Often when driving at night there will be reflectors, placed by the Highway Department on roadside objects, which will reflect back your car’s headlights alerting you to potential danger. As Christians, God has placed us in the world as reflectors to influence our world for righteousness.

Read the story 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

Reflecting the light of the Son – (2 Cor. 4:6)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Even though we sometimes go through hard and perplexing times, we are not crushed nor left in despair. Even though we may be persecuted and struck down, we are never abandoned nor destroyed.
Our dark times are simply an occasion to reflect the light of God’s glory to the world around us. Like the moon reflecting the light of the sun at night, how we respond in dark times, is a testimony to the world that God is still working. Seeing the sun shine upon the moon in the darkness of night always assures us that the sun is still shining even though the sun itself is out of sight.

Verse 18 “Therefore, we do not lose heart.” Dark times won’t cause us to lose heart when we have confidence that God is still working and we understand that our momentary troubles are achieving an eternal glory that is far greater than any discomfort we may have endured.

Activity:
Jesus called us to be light to our world. (Matt. 5:16) Make a list of practical ways you can reflect the light of the Jesus the Son to your world of friends and acquaintances in this present darkness.

For three and a half years the disciples daily lived with Jesus spending time listening to His teachings, observing His ministry and His interaction with people, and being themselves mentored by His discipleship. But after the resurrection, Jesus’ time with them was only periodic. He appeared from time to time but the daily mentoring routine was over. He expected them to carry-on the business of His kingdom.

Read the story John 21:15-19

The disciples were in the dark and confused as to what to do with themselves. In their confusion and darkness several of them decided to return to fishing. They fished all night but caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus appeared on the shore and asked, “Have you any fish?” No, they answered. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did and 153 large fish jumped into their net.

This was reminiscent of three and a half years earlier when Jesus first called them to be His disciples.(John 5:4 -11). On that occasion, Jesus told them He was going to make them fishers of men, and that fishing for the souls of men was to become their life’s mission. He now reminds them of who they are called to be and He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter responded each time, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus connected Peter’s love for Him to his mission saying each time “Feed and take care of my sheep.”

In the darkness we sometimes forget who we are called to be. Fishing for fish was not their calling, fishing for the souls of men was what their lives were to be about. Shortly after this occasion Jesus ascended into heaven and then a few days later He poured out the Holy Spirit upon them on the day of Pentecost empowering them to effectively carry on the business of His kingdom.

The church was born and grew by leaps and bounds as they pursued their calling speaking the Word boldly day after day in the Temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:42)

Activity:
Write a paragraph of what you understand your calling to be at this time in your life. Make a list of things He is doing in you to prepare you for His tasks.

It’s hard to see past the present darkness when there are so many unanswered questions and conflicting opinions. Will this ever end? Will there be new outbreaks once restrictions are lifted? Will we ever return to normal? All the unknowns are like a ton of bricks weighing us down stealing our motivation and draining our energy. Blind Bartimaeus was a product of this kind of dilemma. Healing came when he understood that Jesus was his only solution.

Read the story Mark 10:46-52

Bartimaeus lived in the darkness of being physically blind. His blindness turned him into a roadside beggar. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus, have mercy on me.” Many in the crowd around him tried to quiet him. But he shouted all the more to get the attention of Jesus. Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do. The blind man replied, “I want to see.” Jesus simply said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately, this man whose life had been full of darkness could see the beauty of the world around him!

Last summer, I took my grand kids to an underground cavern. When in the deepest part of the cavern, the tour guide turned off the lights and it became totally black. You could not see even your hand when you held it close in front of your face. After being in total darkness for a few minutes, the tour guide turned on some ultra violet lights and the rock formations came alive with magnificent color and beauty.

What couldn’t be seen or comprehended in natural light became beautiful in the darkness with ultraviolet light revealing its beauty. Likewise, we may be going through dark circumstances, but the Ultra Light of God’s presence reveals beauty that natural light cannot reveal.

Franklin Roosevelt in his inauguration address in 1933, with the country in the depths of the Great Depression, made this statement to the nation. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Roosevelt understood that the main driver of the Great Depression was fear. And until the nation dealt with their fear they would remain paralyzed and unable to advance to a better day.

Fear can be blinding and paralyzing. Let the Ultra Light of God shine into your darkness transforming your vision and motivating you toward advancement in His provision and grace.

Activity:
Like Bartimaeus, cry out to Jesus with your concerns and questions giving them over to Him. Allow Jesus to open your eyes to the opportunities around you to be a blessing to others and to advance the glory of His Kingdom.

As we continue to move through the darkness of conflicting opinions about the effect that this pandemic is having upon our world’s health and economic stability, fear and panic have been the dominate driver of many people’s responses and actions. The more we allow fear and panic to drive us, the more paralyzed we become. Not only must we walk in understanding of the power of God but we must understand His heart, as well.

Read the Story Mark 1:40–45

The man begged Jesus to heal him saying, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus filled with compassion touched him saying, “I am willing. Be clean.” Immediately, the leprosy left the man and he was cured.

This man understood the power of Jesus but failed to understand the heart of Jesus. Because he didn’t understand the heart of Jesus he questioned Jesus’ willingness. Jesus transformed this man’s faith by touching him with compassion and assuring him, I am willing. Faith is transformed not by some mental exercise of trying harder to believe something, but rather by a confident trust in the love and commitment of God. Whatever circumstances we may endure in this present darkness, we can trust God’s commitment and love. He is not only powerful enough to see us through our darkness, He is willing to give us what we need to thrive in the midst of it.

The Apostle John, writing to Christians near the end of the first century who were facing great times of persecution, addressed their fears in I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Just as light dispels darkness, so likewise love dispels fear. When we understand God’s love for us and His commitment to carry us through difficult times, fear will be overwhelmed with confident trust produced by our security in God’s faithfulness and love.

Activity:
Using a Bible concordance list several verses, meaningful to you, that assure you of God’s love which in turn gives you a security that calms your fears and enhances your faith.

One of the most unlikely people in the early days of Christianity to advance the Gospel was Saul of Tarsus. He not only gave his approval of the stoning death of Stephen but he relentlessly sought to arrest and kill the followers of Christ. Then, one day on a mission to Damascus to carry out his plan to persecute the Christians he encountered the Light of Christ.

Read the story Acts 9:1-30

Saul, a zealous persecutor of the early church, was intercepted by the light of Jesus, while on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians in that city. This encounter with Christ’s Light resulted in a total transformation of Saul the persecutor turning him into Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ. The Jews in Damascus were astonished that the one who previously had raised havoc among the Christian community was now proving that Jesus was the Christ with great power and persuasion.

Several years later when Paul was standing trial before Governor Festus and King Agrippa, Paul related the details of his encounter with Christ the Light. The brightness of the light blinded Saul and the voice of Jesus spoke, “I appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I am sending you to open eyes and to turn people from darkness to light…” (Acts 26:16 – 18) This man who had been an operative of the kingdom of darkness became an agent of God’s kingdom of Light establishing churches throughout Asia Minor and writing 2/3rd of the New Testament. Only when we focus on the Light of Jesus instead of the darkness of circumstances are we transformed into useful vessels in God’s kingdom.

Activity:
Each day, for the next 5 days, ask Jesus to shine His light upon your dark circumstances and to show you how He can use it to transform your faith and life.