Issue 680 – Moonlight Reflections – March 11, 2022
This reader submitted image of a lake at night brought to mind one of many walks taken when we lived in Sherwood Park.
Genni the wonder dog, and I took a stroll around Broadmoor Lake. It was a little later than usual and was dark out. It never gets truly dark around the lake because there are enough lights in the area that there is always at least a little light.
There was the slightest hit of a breeze blowing across the lake. Just enough to make tiny waves. The word “waves” makes them sound more prominent than they were. Let’s call them ripples.
There was a reflection of that light in each place around the lake where there was a light source. The reflections carried out on the ripples well beyond where the illumination ended. At the crest of each ripple, the reflection of the light danced for just a moment. As the ripple moved, the light seemed to roll with it. In some cases, you could see the lighted reflection dance across the waves for more than a hundred yards.
My eyes were invariably drawn along the wave of rippling light back to the source. Where there was no lighted ripple, there was nothing of visual interest
That’s how God calls us to live out the Christian life. There should be something about us that people’s eyes are drawn towards the light of Jesus living in us even from a distance.
Jesus understood this concept clearly. That’s why He told us:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Just as street lights were carried great distances by the ripples, the light in our lives gets shown by the way we live.
If you’re walking the talk, there is something different about you. People might not be able to explain what it is, but they can see it.
Love, integrity, peace, hope and joy carry a long way in a dark and hurting world. Do you let yours speak for you, or do you hide it and only let it out on Sunday mornings? God calls us to let our love light shine for others to see.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Let me couch all that with several caveats. Firstly we cannot generate this reflecting light on our own. It must come from within us. That means plastic smiles and faking it until we make it doesn’t work. We all have church masks that we occasionally put on, but they don’t bring glory to God.
Secondly, it isn’t about showing everyone how nice and good we are. It is pointless when we focus all the attention on ourselves rather than God.
Draw close to the Lord, and He will perform your internal transformation. As He does, the light will begin to shine through.
He has created each of us in His image but with different personalities and gifts. That means that the light He shines through each of us is unique and special in some way. No one can bring glory to God in exactly the way you can. Each of us is a specially created part of the larger body of Christ. Each reflection combines with the others to make a blinding light.
Until next time, may the wonder of your personalized relationship with the Lord carry over the ripples in the darkness. May it draw others in the direction of the love of Jesus.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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