Brilliance

Isaiah 58:6-8 shares God’s desire for His people: “'Is not this the kind of fasting [religious acts] I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.'”

Philippians 2:15 puts it this way, “so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky …”

Last October I visited Israel and one night we stayed in a hotel on the Sea of Galilee. The whole region was pitch black, except for the town of Tiberius which was built into a hillside in the distance. The lights of the town shone brightly and were visible from miles around. You couldn’t miss it. This is the area where Jesus spoke these words from Matthew 5:13-14, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

We are called to be like the breaking dawn, like stars in the night sky, and like a city on a hill; in the midst of the darkness we are supposed to be shining brightly for all to see, lighting the way to Jesus, the source of all love and peace.

The church could set the world on fire with God’s brilliance if it would simply rise up and love everyone in Jesus’ Name.

This a picture of Tiberius at night.