Daily Journal: 5 September

Shine Like Stars

Going outside at night and looking up at the sky is one way to walk into God’s Presence. It’s hard not to be aware of Him there, and appreciate the beauty of the moon and the stars. It’s hard not to start reaching out to Him, thanking Him for putting them there and for holding them in their places.

We know that we are also put in place, positioned and held wherever we are.

Acts 17:26-27 (NLV)

He made from one blood all nations who live on the earth. He set the times and places where they should live. “They were to look for God. Then they might feel after Him and find Him because He is not far from each one of us.

Whether our life is as we would like, or whether we persevere through trials, we are cautioned in the bible to keep ourselves without fault, to shine like stars in the darkness, not to blend in or try to hide in the darkness.

Philippians 2:14-16 (NCV)

Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives life. 

We know we live in darkness when we know the light of Christ. But our light is dimmed and we find ourselves at fault before God when we find things to grumble about and people to argue with. We keep the light of innocence in our lives, or quell it, depending on the thoughts we carry inside, depending on where we are looking.

There are crooked and mean people all around us. But as we focus our attention on the bright light of Christ, which is in us, we are absorbed not by their meanness and crookedness, but by His goodness. That goodness is what shines brightly in the darkness around us.

So let your light shine like the stars and don’t let it be dimmed by complaining and arguing.

John 1:4 (NIV)

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.