Light in Me Be
“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy," (Isaiah 60:1-5)
We live in a world where most people are asleep to God and God's glory. It is possible for some people to go through life in a spiritual sleepwalk, so to speak. However, it is not possible to live in a spiritual slumber state when you are God's people upon whom His own glory has risen to shine on. That's what verse one of Isaiah 60 says....
The glory of the Lord has risen to shine on you.
You are Jerusalem. I am Jerusalem. The glory of the Lord has risen to shine upon us.
Let me be clear, GOD shines. We just reflect His glory. That is a very crucial distinction. God's light illuminates us. People in the world we live in are drawn to His light in us, even those who have no idea who God really is.
I love weddings. For most people, the bride is the one their eyes go to during a wedding ceremony. It's the normal, natural thing. At any wedding, everyone will turn and look when the bride starts coming down the aisle. Not me. I always look at the groom. That's where the really good stuff is. Have you ever taken the time to look at the groom's face as his bride is coming down the aisle toward him? Really look at it? The look on his face is nothing short of amazing, no matter what type of emotion comes forth. Just take a look....
All wedding photos from: https://www.bridalguide.com/planning/the-details/reception/grooms-reactions-wedding-ceremony#142647
(I had to include this last guy twice because his reaction is just so precious!)
I do not have to look down the aisle when the bride comes in during a wedding to see how beautiful the bride is. All I have to do is look at the groom's face. When I look at him, I can see the beauty of the bride written all over his face. It's pretty great, actually. You'll have to try it sometime.
Arise. Shine. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Your eyes will shine and your heart will thrill with joy.
The world does not see God or know God or love God like we do, but they should see something of Him in us. If we have been risen from our spiritual slumber and awakened to God's light, we reflect His light. A wedding is a spiritual symbol. When we look at Jesus, others should see our light and our beauty reflected on His face. He is the source of it all. If that's not happening, then we have stepped out of His light. No one should ever have to look at us, because the radiance and beauty that we carry will be seen when they themselves start seeking God's face.
Do we walk in the light of His glory that He rose to shine on us? Is He that real to us?
People will begin walking in the light they see streaming through our lives....then they will learn to walk in God's glorious light for themselves.
If someone was following only the light they see streaming through our lives, would that be enough to lead them out of the darkness of their lives?
What is going to lead the nations to the light of Jesus is going to be when His light is shining in your eyes and my eyes and His joy is filling our hearts. When people look at our faces, they need to see something of the face of Jesus, something of the heart of the Father. Something that will inspire them to begin to seek Him for themselves.
A hurting and broken world needs to see the light of the glory of Jesus shining through us....His light in our eyes, His joy in our soul.
Apostle Johnathan Stidham says, "Light in me be." That is my prayer this Christmas, for all of us.
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