Walk of Life – Day 4 – January 2021 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs
NEW BEGINNINGS – NEW BRIGHTER LIGHT
Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
A candle, the more it burns and brings more light, the smaller and tinier it becomes. John the Baptist was a burning and a shining light. He burned out his life as a witness for the Messiah and we only see the light. He said ” He must increase and I must decrease.” This new year, each day, may we burn a little brighter with a new light. The Lord Jesus Himself is the light of the world who came down into darkness. What does it mean to shine brighter and brighter? It means to show more and more of the Lord Jesus in and through our lives.
Meet John the Baptist…a young boy born to elderly aged parents Elizabeth and Zacharias. His parents were ministers in the House of God. The boy lived the life of a hermit away from his parents. He never had any job. he ate what God’s creation provided, never cut his hair, dressed in crude clothing, never married, never had any friends, came in contact with society for a brief while and then was imprisoned and executed. If this was the description of your son’s life, you may feel the life was not well spent. However, see the Lord Jesus’ evaluation (Luke 7:28), “Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John.”
The Lord Jesus makes a beautiful statement in John 5:35. Jesus called him a burning and a shining light. There are different kinds of lights. Not every light however is burning and shining. Since John burned with zeal for the Lord inside and the bright light that he showed was seen outside, people rejoiced in his light. You can burn and shine by being effective in the purpose for which the Lord has called you. In Romans 12.11, the Bible says “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
Being a burning and shining light means you are enthusiastic, agile and fervent about spiritual things. Sharing the Gospel is the most important vocation in your life. No one can silence you. You are always willing to witness for the Lord Jesus no matter what the challenge. You think and breathe world evangelism. It brings to mind the words of the Prophet Jeremiah: “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jeremiah 20:9).
When you are truly a burning and a shining light, those who come in contact with you and do not know the Lord Jesus catch a glimpse of Christ through your life. You are on fire with the Gospel 24 hours a day and filled with the Spirit. You are fervent in soul winning and praying for the millions of lost souls.
You always seek to touch everyone with the presence and power of God. You are willing to go out of the way for the service of the Lord, to always give your time, efforts and resources. This reminds me of Samuel Morris, a young African missionary boy who literally showed forth the light of the Lord Jesus. When he was in a Bible Study, he did not know the language but just his prayer moved all the young people in that meeting and when the pastor came back he felt the moving of the Holy Spirit and so many souls on their knees weeping for their sins.
If this describes your life, be grateful and continue to shine for the Lord Jesus. If this sounds like the neighbor next door, this new year take a decision to shine your light brighter and brighter so others may come and rejoice in your light.
New Year Resolution: Dear Lord, I am so preoccupied by the things of this world that probably I have forgotten to shine my light to the millions of perishing souls. This year, help me to shine brighter and brighter for you. Help me to be on fire to share the Gospel.
