Sometimes things said about light and darkness sound to us like little more than theory. It is hard for us to identify with the "black and white" approach; the world looks to us more like many shades of gray. In the same way, we don't usually feel like we are full of light. The reality is that there are good people in the world who do not know Christ, and some of them even seem to be better than we who believe. How can we be "children of the light" in a world of darkness? Somehow it just doesn't seem logical.
Maybe we should not spend so much time looking inside and getting hung up by doubts. Let us not even expect that by some sudden touch, when we have not even raised a finger, we will be changed into those who radiate light. Rather, we should see this biblical idea as something we strive toward, something we can pursue and eventually attain.
I know that today I am a beloved son of God. I am in the light and the light is in me, but there is a lot of darkness in the world around. I simply choose to believe that, and then I begin to behave accordingly. I don't go out to judge others, but rather to bless and encourage. I stop doubting my identity in Messiah Jesus. I want to be like him, and he is light in the darkness.
I am talking about a change in my way of thinking. If we can take a different attitude, we will start to see results. Then we won't dirty ourselves with "little" things like profane or vulgar talk. Why? I am not suggesting some "legalistic" approach, some kind of child's game that says this is permitted and this is forbidden. Instead we are talking about a mature spiritual attitude. If we will look at Jesus with love and admiration, those "small" things will no longer interest or influence us. As we adopt this approach, making a quality decision that we are children of light, our lives a sweet fragrance, we will find that more people identify "light" in us.
- 19 MAY -