WATCHWORD:
5 This is the message we heard from Jesus[a] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7
The Beatitudes –
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew5:3-10
Meditation:
Go Light Your World
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home.
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
And hold out your candle for all to see it,
Take your candle, and go light your world.
Chris Rice
That is such a beautiful song. It’s one of those if you hear it, and know the words, it’s hard not to sing at to the glory of God. Tells the story of God’s spirit within each one of us and how we are to minister through our life In Christ.
We have that spirit within us, and that spirit turns into the fire of Christianity when you except Christ as Lord and Savior. Maybe your fire was kindled in sadness and loss. Maybe in the darkness of remembered violence as a child, you turned to your Savior, thus your candle was lit.
Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame.
That speaks to our ministry, to making disciples, to sharing our story, to holding our candle to provide the flame of faith for another. You know that a seed planted, is a spark waiting to start a flame.
Or maybe it was that spark, the hint of a remembered word of faith, that touched the whisper of rightness, that, in turn, shown light on cruelty, that brought forth the grace of compassion, outrage and positive corrective action.
Maybe the light of your candle’s flame, provided the light to reveal potential and talent and an awareness of others. Maybe it was that remembered little flame on that first candle that reveals so much of the inequality, that gave birth to spirit, and that allowed you to go beyond self, to touch others, to light other candles. Candles that shows the way to peace and harmony.
And so, our candles, light other candles, and the dark way is brightened, so as to see through the artificial walls of racism and criticism and political labeling, to overcome conflict with reconciliation, a way to overcome hatred with love and approachability. A way to overcome revenge mindsets with compassion and acceptance of responsibility and forgiveness.
The little flame of our candle is not a little flame at all, it is God’s love, contagious and without reservation or limitations. It is seeing our fire for what it is, a first step. Knowing this begins progress, a kind word, a touch, a recognizing evil for what it is and addressing it. The heavy lift, becomes lighter, as more and more candles are joined. And soon two becomes four, and four becomes eight, then eight becomes…and God’s plan unfolds.
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world.
Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Movie Suggestion — Dave. Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley. Heart-warming story of what happens with goodness takes over an evil presidency.
Funnies — I think I’m a good person, but the way I react when people drive slowly in the left lane, or insist on driving exactly the speed limit, suggests otherwise.
I wish everything was as easy as getting fat.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, we thank Thee for all of the ongoing tides of life, for the way situations that appear fixed, break up in the face of Your love. For the way that life thrusts itself forward at this place and the other. We thank Thee for the unexpected in life, and for the chance for growth that comes with it. May we be of those who live with alertness and mind above small frictions. May we be quick to see every forward movement of our Lord in the great affairs of the human race, and to follow Him there. Amen.
–Edward Increase Bosworth, 1929
