Arise

Children of God, children of light, we shine as lights in the world in the midst of a crooked and twisted world (Phil. 2:15).

“Now while Paul was waiting for [his friends] at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16, ESV).

A child of light—his Spirit was provoked by darkness.

“And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’” (1 Sam. 17:26, ESV).

A child of light—his Spirit was provoked by darkness.

“Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb [of Lazarus]” (Jn. 11:38, MSG).

A child of light—his Spirit was provoked by darkness.

“….for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:9-11, ESV).

Children of light—their Spirit was provoked by darkness.

Faced by darkness:

Paul charged in—he preached with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

David charged in—he conquered, protected only by the shield of faith.

Jesus charged in—taking on death itself.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Children of light, so permeated by light, soul so filled with light, eyes so attuned to the light of glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6), unveiled

souls quivered

sensed

felt

the very presence of darkness.

Like Paul, David, and our Lord Savior, are we so Light-Filled we are sensitive to the dark? We walk and discern the darkness, like a fine tuned instrument, quiver at the darkness? Eyes so filled with the light of glory from time spent at the feet of the Messiah that we perceive the dews of dark that creep?

Or are we blind to dark?

Accustomed?

Shades of sorrow and sighing now status quo?

Millions walked past the altar to the unknown God. Not all pagans—Jews and the devout people Paul met in Athens (Acts 17:17) so daily dealt with darkness they diminished it.

Are we so in touch with Life Himself we quiver at a wisp of the gloom shroud of death?

Arise, shine, the light has come

Wake up sleeper

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you…. And nations [and neighbors, drug addicts, depressed, mourning, unemployed] shall come to your light, and kings [rich, powerful, the ones who have it all but have nothing] to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1, 3 ESV).

We, children of light—

Darkness cannot overcome.

Will we step in?

Arise?

Dispel?

For we have the Morning Star!