Radiance (Psalm 34:5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 34:5

Have you ever watched someone speak of God or (especially) sing a worship song, and her face is just radiant? Or someone hears stories of God's love, and he glows with the joy he feels for his Lord?

I remember vividly when my maternal grandfather used to talk about his Jesus. He would literally glow with the love he felt. And he loved nothing more than to tell others about his Jesus. He spent many years as a chaplain at the Los Angeles Rescue Mission, and even among what many would call the dregs of society, my grandpa loved them with the love of Jesus.

One of my greatest joys and honors is to speak about God and His love for us. There's nothing quite like seeing the faces of those to whom I speak. When I share words of God's love and grace and mercy, heads nod and smiles grow. There is a radiance to the faces of those who love God.

When you speak of the Lord, does your face light up with the joy of knowing Him? Can you just not help smiling when you think of all He's done for you? Feel the joy and peace and love that comes only from knowing our God—Father, Son, and Spirit. And let that joy and peace and love overflow!

A Breath of Fresh Air (Philippians 2:14-16)

Today’s scripture: Philippians 2:14-16

Again, today’s verses both convict and encourage …

Many mornings, I wake up feeling pretty lousy. If you’ve read my blogs for a while, you know I deal with several health issues. On bad days, I really want to whine and complain, but usually, I just go to the Lord in prayer, thanking Him for the strength I know He’ll give me to accomplish what needs to be done each day.

And then I read God’s word. Verses like today’s. I’m to do all things—all things—without complaining. If I believe God is in loving control, I should be able to accept everything without question. If I trust Him to work all things for good (Rom. 8:28), I should rejoice in all things.

But there’s more to these verses. If I really can rejoice in all things without complaining, then God will use me as a light in this “crooked and perverse generation.” (And, by the way, don’t you love how relevant the Bible is today? Paul could easily have been writing about the United States in 2016.)

I love The Message’s paraphrase of verse 15: "Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night …"

Don’t you want to be a “breath of fresh air”? Don’t you want to “provide … a glimpse of good living and of the living God”?

We can be that light in this world. I know sometimes it seems things are too corrupt, too perverse, too squalid and polluted. But if we praise God through the difficult times, if we strive to love each other—and this world—He will work through us.  

Let Jesus Shine! (Ephesians 5:11-14)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 5:11-14

I wrote yesterday that dark and light cannot coexist. When light is extinguished, dark wins. But when the tiniest flame is lit in a pitch-black room, it illuminates even the darkest corner.

We live in a dark world—a very dark world. Sin is rampant. Greed and corruption destroy. Lust and sensuality abounds. The enemy of our souls and his minions are waging warfare. As Paul wrote:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Yes. A very dark world.

We can live with hope, however. If we truly believe in the grace of God, if we believe Jesus came to earth to save lost souls, if we desire to be salt and light, Jesus will shine on and through us. He’ll cast out darkness. He’ll conquer our enemies.

Because “He who is in [us] is greater than he who is in the world …” (1 John 4:4). And we already know Who wins the war: Jesus Himself said, “…in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

So let Him shine in and through you. 

Take These Words to Heart (Ephesians 5:5-10)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 5:5-10

Paul gives several exhortations in these few verses … and we should take them to heart.

"Let no one deceive you with empty words." This world is full of promises—for success, for prosperity, even for salvation. Living according to the world’s standards is beyond foolish. It’s risking “inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

“… do not be partakers …” with those who are immoral, impure, covetous … those who worship other idols. We just cannot, cannot, live like the world. We must live as God’s word commands us, dwelling on those things that are pure and true and lovely (see Philippians 4:8).

“… walk as children of Light …” Our Lord and Savior is Light (John 1:6-10) and He Himself called us to be “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Light casts out all darkness, and our light—the Light—should shine through us to cast out the darkness of this world.

“… learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” And how do we do that? By reading His word. By meditating on its truths. By surrendering ourselves to Him every day. By seeking His will in all things.

Strong exhortations … will you take them to heart?

A Different Walk (Ephesians 4:17-19)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:17-19

Read any newspaper or listen to the news, watch the latest movie, or do some internet surfing, and you immediately see a world “excluded from the life of God.” Everyone living according to his or her own rules. No truth. No absolutes.

Futile minds. Dark understanding. Hard hearts. Calloused spirits. Devoted to sensuality. Practicing impurities. Greedy.

Makes you think the enemy is winning … and yes, he’s winning a battle or two. And those of us who follow Christ must be ready for each day’s battle.

We need to put on our defensive armor every single day (Ephesians 6:10-17). We'll be talking about these verses in a week or two, but we must be prepared for the battle ahead of us each and every day. We must take up the one offensive weapon in our arsenal: the sword of the Spirit, which is the very word of God. We must study and meditate on and memorize God’s word to us.

So when the enemy comes and tries to attack us with all those enticements of the world, we can withstand. We can stand firm.

And we can shine the light of Jesus. We can have strong minds. True understanding. Loving hearts. Willing spirits. We can be devoted to loving God and others. Practice the fruit of the spirit. Be generous.