LetLightShine | Kristi's Morning Devotional

August 27, 2024August 27, 2024

On A Mission

Thinking about yesterday’s teaching this morning, I am reminded of Jesus’ words “I AM the light of the world, anyone who follows Me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 ERV

Jesus’ mission was to bring light to the world. Just as He was there at the beginning when light was created, He came to bring spiritual light to a world that didn’t know God and His love.

“Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. ⁴In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it.⁶There was a man named John, who was sent by God…⁸John was not the light. But he came to tell people about the light. ⁹The true light was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people.

¹⁰The Word was already in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to the world that was his own. And his own people did not accept him. ¹²But some people did accept him. They believed in him, and he gave them the right to become children of God. ¹³They became God’s children, but not in the way babies are usually born. It was not because of any human desire or plan. They were born from God himself…¹⁶Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from him we all received one blessing after another.” John 1:3-16 ERV

Christ’s mission was to restore relationship between God and man. He brought a message of grace and truth, love and forgiveness. He truly was a shining light in a dark situation. People were oppressed – blind, lame, leprous. They were living under the Law of Moses and no one, not one, could keep the whole law. It wasn’t possible. That’s why Jesus came to bring light and life to the world.

Since Jesus is the light of the world why did I spend yesterday’s blog telling you that we need to clean our chimneys? Glad you asked.

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

When I was a young girl, I received a watch for a birthday present. I was thrilled when I learned that it had luminous hands. It would glow in the dark, all night long.

Christians aren’t “the” light of the world, that of course is Jesus. But since He lives in us, we have His light shining in us and through us. We are a conduit of light, just like those luminous hands on my watch.

Christ’s mission was to bring light to the world; our mission is to reflect His light and let it keep shining, revealing God’s power and love.

We are on a mission!

May 17, 2024May 17, 2024

Smoky Glass

One of the things I have done over the past couple of days is clean the mirrors and windows. There was a light coating of construction dust on everything.

It wasn’t a priority the first couple of days, but it really began to annoy me. I could even write my name in the dust on the mirrors surface. Time for a cleaning!

This morning, I was reminded of a collection of vintage oil lamps I used to have. I loved using them; the ambiance of the flickering flame was so soothing; they gave good light but the glass chimneys had to be cleaned on a regular basis or the light they put off was diminished.

Just like life, isn’t it?

We are called to let our light shine so those around us can see the Father and His promises but sometimes our chimneys get smoke covered and our true image is distorted by the dust.

“The Lord’s instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly, and they give us light.” Psalm 19:8 CEV

We start out excited about God’s word. It makes a powerful impact in our lives and then we get busy, we forget God’s promises, worry puts a sooty film on things and we need to be cleaned.

” No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so everyone who comes into the house can see the light. ³⁴Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. ³⁵So be sure your light isn’t darkness. ³⁶If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you.” Luke 11:33-36 CEV

God’s word is the lamp that lights our path.

“Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.” Psalm 119:105 CEV

The light doesn’t change. God’s word doesn’t change; it’s our perspective that often times get clouded by our circumstances and opinions around us.

“The Scriptures say, ‘God commanded light to shine in the dark.’ Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ. ⁷We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 CEV

May I encourage you to do a “white glove” test on the chimney of your life. Is it cloudy, does it have a little dust? Maybe it’s gotten covered with soot and it’s time for a cleaning.

“You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light ⁹and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful” Ephesians 5:8-9 CEV

“Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word.” Ephesians 5:26 NLV

Let God do some good old fashioned cleaning so that our lights shine brightly in this world.

March 18, 2024March 18, 2024

Navigating in the Dark

Have you ever tried to walk in the dark? In someone else’s house? Or on a dark road in nature? It can be scary, unnerving at best. It’s always helpful and encouraging to have someone there to shed some light on the path.

I think that’s how Joseph and Mary must have felt. They were navigating through the darkness of tradition and propriety. Old Testament law said that the penalty of sexual intercourse before marriage was death and at the very least, worthy of being ostracized by the family.

Enter Joseph.

“This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David’s family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God’s Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

²⁰While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. ²¹ Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. ²²So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, ²³ “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:18-23 CEV

There is no cross without a manger. No Easter without Christmas.

“Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, ³¹ and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High.” Luke 1:30-32 CEV

“All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. ¹⁰But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. ¹¹This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 CEV

The angels came with a message, with direction, with hope and peace. Generally, their first words were “don’t be afraid”. Fear needs to be dispelled so that we can comprehend the rest of the message.

A child, a Savior, the Son of God is born. He IS Christ the Lord and He WILL save His people from their sins!

Jewish babies were born all the time, but none were like this one. He came from God’s right hand and He was miraculously conceived. He had a purpose.

“A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man who was devoted to God…²⁶The Holy Spirit told him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah from the Lord…³³Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, ‘Many Jews will fall and many will rise because of this boy. He will be a sign from God that some will not accept. ³⁵So the secret thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that happen will be painful for you—like a sword cutting through your heart.’” Luke 2:25-33 ERV

Here we have the young parents and the old, faithful servant of God. Young parents who have the responsibility of raising God’s Son. The old man, who knows how this child’s life will end. God is faithful to them both.

He is also faithful to us. He has promised to never leave or abandon us; He will shed light on our path, even in the darkest hours, and will provide light for our journey.

“…Everything that was created ⁴ received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone…” John 1:3-4 CEV

Because of the cross we never have to navigate the darkness alone!

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023

Let It Be

Reading through the Scriptures this morning I paused in several different places, reading and re-reading the verses, then saying “Lord, let it be as Your word says”.

You remember the words of the Beatles song – let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. There is no other place that we should go for wisdom than to the word of God.

Let it be!

In light of all we hear and see these verses are so pertinent.

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV

Peace in Christ should rule our thinking.

Thankfulness should always be in our hearts.

The Word of God should live richly within us.

Everything we do and say should bring honor to the Father.

The Father has placed these things within us – peace, thankfulness, His promises. There is one more verse I would like to add to these.

“Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NLV

We should be a shining light for all to see.

I can’t help but think that the light Jesus was referring to was the peace, joy, thankfulness and the promise we have from the Father. In all these things we are a conduit from the Father to those around us. When they see these good things, our Father will receive honor.

Say with me, “Lord, let it be”!