Written ~ 12-09-2023
Proverbs 13:9
9 “The life of the godly is full of light and joy,
but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.”
This verse couldn’t be more true! When your life has been changed by the love of Jesus and the Holy Spirit has filled your heart, mind and soul – there is a bright light and remarkable joy that shows through everything you do, say and think. Jesus says He is the light of the world, so when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and He takes up residence in your heart, His presence, His light is made visible through your actions. Look at some of the other words for light:
Blaze ~ Flare ~ Illumination ~ Radiance ~ Glow ~ Shine ~ Ignite
When you have the love of the Lord present in all of your actions, when His light is what shines through, it can be seen from far off. Visualize a blazing fire, it’s glow can be seen from miles away. And if you were to shoot a flare into the sky it also can be seen from miles around. That’s how the light of Jesus should be seen through us. There should be a radiance in us that is palpable, it’s so distinguishable that it’s able to ignite the light in others.
Are there situations you find yourself in where your light diminishes so much that your flame becomes a faint flicker? You know it. Everyone around you knows it. It’s during those times that your faith in the Lord needs to kick into overdrive. Here’s an idea, when this happens, why not have an “emergency kit” readily prepared with the things that you absolutely love. Maybe it’s your favorite worship music that can draw your spirit back into the light. Maybe it’s sitting down with your favorite book and a cup of coffee. Maybe it’s splurging on your favorite snack. Maybe it’s spending quality, uninterrupted time with a loved one. Maybe it’s calling a friend who will pray with you, someone who always helps your light reignite. Maybe one of those things will do the trick, maybe you need every trick in the bag. Do what you need to do and quickly, don’t let your light go out completely, it’s a lot harder to come back from a place of complete darkness than if you’re fanning a small flame back to life. Look at what it says in John 1:4-5,
4 The Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Remember always… where the light comes from and hold tight to the truth you have learned from studying the Bible. No matter how dark it may seem, Christ’s light is always shining.
Light and joy seems to go hand in hand. Where there is light, there will be joy, it can’t be helped! Nehemiah 8:10b says,
10b “…Don’t be dejected and sad, worried or grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
When you are watching someone who obviously has the joy of the Lord pouring out of their very being, it’s contagious isn’t it? I think it’s almost impossible to spend time with a joyful, Holy Spirit filled person and not have some of that joy rub off on you.
If the people you surround yourself with do not feed the fire within you or zap the joy right out of you… I highly recommend that you reevaluate who you spend the most time with. Align yourself with godly people who are full of light and joy. Don’t hesitate. You may have to seek these people out, but spend as much time with them as possible.
When a person does not have the Lord Jesus Christ living within them… it is impossible for them to have light. Proverbs 13:9b says,
9b “…the light of the wicked will be (or is) snuffed out…”
The “wicked” person this verse is talking about is the non-believer, it is the person who has not made the decision to follow Christ… It is the unrighteous person. The Lord brings light and life and causes us to be righteous in the eyes of the Almighty God… when the decision has not been made to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, it keeps that soul in darkness. Not until Jesus steps in does His light shine and the joy of the Lord is received and experienced at its fullest capacity!
Praying for unsaved loved ones, friends, relatives, etc., should be a passion for every believer. I know I wholeheartedly want them to know the light of Jesus, I want them to experience the joy their life can be filled with. So my prayers are never ceasing. In the meantime, I pray also that my light would shine brightly and that the joy I have would be contagious and bring others into the light of Jesus.
Thank You Jesus for Your Light!
Shine Brightly!
~AMEN~