Devotion for April 17, 2008

There was a time when you were darkness, but now you are light in Christ.  Live as Children of the light.  Light produces every kind of goodness, justice and truth.
                                                       Ephesians 5:8-9, From the Inclusive Bible

Often we are accustomed to darkness and don’t even realize we are living in darkness.  We grow accustomed to discrimination and prejudice, to living in fear, to others’ dark and lonely lives.  But God calls us to live in the light of Christ, to shine the light of Jesus into the corners of darkness and sweep away that discrimination and prejudice, fear and loneliness.

It takes courage to wake up, look around and begin to shine God’s light.  Sometimes it takes community, to call each other accountable to shining that Light.  Sometimes we are so lulled and blind to our surroundings that the only way we can begin to see what is there is either to leave for a time and then return, or call upon a newcomer or an outsider to help us see what we can no longer see.

I think of that hymn “I want to walk as a Child of the Light, I want to follow Jesus.”  The refrain takes on new meaning after hearing this passage of scripture.  “In him there is no darkness at all.  The night and the day are both alike.  The Lamb is the light of the City of God.  Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.”

Lord, shine your light in my heart.  Help me to be your lamp, shining light and producing goodness, justice and truth where now there is none.  For, “I want to walk as a Child of the Light.”  Amen.

Monica Swink
RMN Board Chair

Comments

[Wesley Palmer]

I was reflecting on the light issue the other day as I listened to the news reports about the olympic torch's visit to San Francisco. the torch is meant to be a symbol of the unity and community of the Olympic ideals, but this year it is a symbol of Chinese oppression. Therefore the torch was driven around on a bus and kept hidden because those who controlled it did not want to face the light of truth. The church has a light that is diminished behind our denomination's stance on not being fully inclusive. If we really represent what Christ taught, then we need to stop driving around in a bus that doesn't accomodate everyone that Christ would welcome. I want to walk as a child of the light with all of God's children. I pray that GC will also.