May 20-26
A WORD IN SEASON
“I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
READ: John 9
Feeling around for the words to begin this little thought, my eyes locked on my wedding ring, resting on the finger of my left hand, poised upon the keyboard and anxiously awaiting the cue from my brain to begin typing. My eyes were drawn to the diamond because it is situated at the correct angle underneath my overhead bulb to catch the light and throw it back with such a dazzling show of sparkle and light that I found myself momentarily enthralled. When the dense substance of the diamond drinks in the light, it is refracted, or broken into bits – each bit representing a color of the rainbow. Then it breaks away and flies back into the space around it with an intensive beauty that makes diamonds, well, magnificent. I cannot help but relate these precious stones to the extraordinary dignity that is ours in Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world, but he really shows his glory when we, created under the intense pressures of trial and blade, allow his light to pass through us. The most extraordinary diamond expertly cut, if left in a dark drawer or closet, will be nothing more than a cold, hard lump. Likewise, if we are not infused with Christ, his light, his character, his grace, his mercy, his violent death and his resurrection – we never shine. But when we are permeated with his Spirit, his light shines through us, and we dazzle.
Respond: Spiritual Exercise for the Week of May 20, 2012
Shine!
Every morning when I drop my children off at school, I loudly declare, “You are the light of the world! Let your light shine!” They roll their eyes and say, “Yeah mom, okay!” In the gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” And in the Sermon on the Mount, (Matt 5:14-16) Jesus declares that believers are the light of the world. In what ways are both statements true? Jesus explained that when we let our light shine, God is glorified. How does this happen? How can our “sparkle” make God look good?