The Upper Room devotional reflection for Thursday, February 2, 2023, was written by Douglas “Rusty” Brown of South Carolina.
1 Then Job answered: 2 "Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God? 3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength —who has resisted him, and succeeded? — 5 he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger; 6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; 8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea; 9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; 10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.
Job 9:1-10 NRSV
SOURCE OF LIGHT
On a clear night I took our dog outside. The sky was beautiful. I often feel a sense of awe for God’s creation, particularly when many stars and planets are visible in the night sky. How vast it is! I also feel a connection with Job who marveled at the constellations of Orion and the Great Bear, all of which I can see thousands of years after job did. Another feature of the night sky that amazes me is that the objects that appear the brightest, the moon and some of the planets like Venus and Jupiter, do not produce their own light. Unlike the numerous stars that generate their own light, the moon and visible planets have no intrinsic light of their own. Instead, they reflect the light of the sun.
In a similar manner, we shine the brightest when we reflect the light of God. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to help us stay attuned to God and to Jesus Christ, we will be better able to reflect that light to others. Even when things all around us seem dark, God and God’s Son are an incredible source of light for humankind.
Friends,
In his beautiful song of praise, “Here I Am to Worship,” Michael W. Smith pens these words: “Light of the world you stepped out into darkness. Opened my eyes and let me see.” Indeed, Jesus is the light that gives us hope amidst the dark spaces of our lives. Our relationship with God through Christ offers us the opportunity to face the uncertain darkness that looms around us, with confidence and assurance. It is that confidence and assurance that Jesus asks us to share with others within our spheres of influence, so that they might embrace relationship with Jesus for themselves.
Jesus states in Matthew 5:14a: “You are the light of the world…” Christ tasks us with being a light of hope and beacon for those who are weary that they might find rest. Christ tasks us with illuminating the darkness of injustice and placing a spotlight on inequality. As Douglas’ reflection highlights, we are tasked to reflect the light of Christ in everything we do and in every place we go. I invite you to let the light of Christ within you to shine brightly today.
-Pastor Anthony
Prayer:
Creator of our vast universe, help us to remember that you are the source of light for our lives. Amen.
- Douglas “Rusty” Brown