Shining for Jesus

Last night Carole and I stood out in the middle of our yard around 10 PM looking up into the deep night sky. We saw the most beautiful supermoon. A supermoon is a full moon or a new moon that nearly coincides with perigee—the closest that the moon comes to the Earth in its elliptic orbit—resulting in a slightly larger-than-usual apparent size of the lunar disk as viewed from Earth.

As it is with so many things in nature, we can see a beautiful life lesson for our Christian daily lives. If we are followers of Christ, we should strive to always shine with the love of Jesus every day. Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” As the moon shines larger and brighter when it is closest to the Earth, so we shine larger and brighter when we are walking closer to our Lord Jesus.

There are so many passages that convey Jesus is the Light and declare that we are to shine for Him in this world of darkness. Psalm 97:11 says, “Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.” Matthew 5:16 states, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Daniel 12:3 says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” One of my favorites is John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

May I humbly encourage us all to be righteous, full of joy, be known for our desire to do good, and reflect the Light that is our Savior Jesus.

Your servant in Christ, Pastor Phillip