Daily Devotionals
Monday, February 19, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Ready … Set ….
Monday night. Winter. Dark and cold. You drive up to Rachel’s Closet for Bible study.
All the lights are on. The door is open. There’s welcoming warmth inside. But so much more.
That last-century Gaither song nails it: “There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place. And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord. There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.”
Yup, I’m waxing a mite poetic today, but maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking about what it means when Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Open doors. Welcoming warmth. Spirit of the Lord. Light in the darkness.
No question about it, this is the light our big dark world needs! But it’s also what our individual worlds – the people we encounter everyday – need.
How? Well, Jesus is THE light of the world; he said so. (John 8:12) But then he turned around and said we – Believers – are the light of the world. In other words, dear Sisters, we’re called to be Spirit-fueled reflectors of his nature – his love, kindness, generosity, compassion … the list is endless.
For us, our “shining” begins by fueling up on God’s Word followed by significant time spent on our knees asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Then who knows what opportunities we’ll have to be lights in the darkness around us. (I’m thinking Jesus knows.)
So are we all in? Then Ready! … Set! … You Glow, Girl!
Mary Ann
Monday night. Winter. Dark and cold. You drive up to Rachel’s Closet for Bible study.
All the lights are on. The door is open. There’s welcoming warmth inside. But so much more.
That last-century Gaither song nails it: “There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place. And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord. There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.”
Yup, I’m waxing a mite poetic today, but maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking about what it means when Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Open doors. Welcoming warmth. Spirit of the Lord. Light in the darkness.
No question about it, this is the light our big dark world needs! But it’s also what our individual worlds – the people we encounter everyday – need.
How? Well, Jesus is THE light of the world; he said so. (John 8:12) But then he turned around and said we – Believers – are the light of the world. In other words, dear Sisters, we’re called to be Spirit-fueled reflectors of his nature – his love, kindness, generosity, compassion … the list is endless.
For us, our “shining” begins by fueling up on God’s Word followed by significant time spent on our knees asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Then who knows what opportunities we’ll have to be lights in the darkness around us. (I’m thinking Jesus knows.)
So are we all in? Then Ready! … Set! … You Glow, Girl!
Mary Ann
