‘How can light live with darkness?’
2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT
We don’t have to watch or read the news for long to see how much darkness and suffering there is in the world. But God is light, and in the Bible it says: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5 NIV). However much darkness we see around us, we can still have hope because we know Jesus’ light has overcome it. And, as Jesus’ followers, we are all ‘children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness’ (1 Thessalonians 5:5 NIV).
In our day-to-day lives we come into contact with darkness regularly. The Bible says that we as believers live ‘in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights’ (Philippians 2:15 NKJV). As children of the light, we don’t need to be intimidated by the darkness around us. Instead, we are able to shine brighter.
Shining in a dark world can feel scary because we’re on show. It might even make us unpopular. But we can be reassured that we’re doing exactly what God wants: by shining we’re glorifying him. Jesus said: ‘You are the light that gives light to the world…Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in Heaven’ (Matthew 5:14-16 NCV). Are we prepared to shine today?
So what now? Wrap up warm and go outside on a clear night to look at the stars. Pray that you would shine brightly for God.
