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. [Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)]
Warm summer nights at the lake mean campfires, s’mores and fireflies. As the darkness descends, bug jars appear and the children start chasing these fascinating insects. How odd that the same child who will shirk away from any insect during the day will give chase to and capture these flashing winged beetles at night. By the end of the evening, the children have collected a jarful of tiny flying stars (that will be released as soon as the little ones are tucked into bed).
Officially, they are Lampyridae—unofficially, they are the lightning bugs that bring magic to our yards and smiles to our faces. They have little light factories in their abdomens that take in oxygen and combine it with luciferin and other harder-to-spell chemicals to produce light with no heat. Actually, these bioluminescent creatures are just highly efficient flying light bulbs!
Unfortunately, many scientists believe Lampyridae are disappearing from the landscape because the grassy meadows and ponds that were their home are now parking lots and housing developments. The bugs’ biggest threat, however, comes not from urban sprawl or pesticides but from the lights that accompany civilization. Fireflies light up so they can communicate with one another and each of the 200 species has its own unique flash pattern. What we see on a summer’s night is actually a firefly’s version of a singles’ bar. As they flit around flashing their lights, they’re looking for a mate. The glow from parking lots, street lamps and car headlights can interrupt a firefly’s signals for several minutes meaning these tiny guys can’t find one another to do what fireflies must do to survive.
While watching my yard light up with these flying light factories, I think of how Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. Like fireflies, we are to shine in its darkness. Just as children are drawn to the firefly’s light, people should be drawn to ours. As Christians, we should sparkle and shine and be a welcome sight to all who encounter us. That glow of love should help others recognize us for what we are—followers of Christ. There’s no need to chase and capture us since we’ll joyfully share the source of our light with others. But, like the firefly, the world around us threatens our survival. While it’s light that endangers the firefly, it’s the world’s darkness that endangers ours. We must never let it keep us from shining brightly.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings of summer nights and for the fireflies that remind us to shine our lights brightly in the darkness of this troubled world.
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. [Francis of Assisi]
I often find myself lost in the Bible, fascinated by this amazing book of history, poetry, passion, and wisdom. Comparing translations and reading commentaries helps me understand the context and meaning of verses. Knowing something about the specific church to whom Paul was writing, for example, allows me to better understand his directions, many of which seem peculiar in today’s world where churches don’t argue about circumcision and food isn’t offered to idols. For example, Paul wasn’t playing fashion police when giving instructions about hair length and head coverings to the church in Corinth. Although Greek women worshipped without head coverings, Jewish women had always covered their heads in worship—an uncovered head for them was a sign of loose morals. Moreover, in Corinth (the city with Aphrodite’s temple and its 1000 prostitutes) both long hair on men and short hair on women were signs of prostitution. Paul was trying to unify both Jewish and Gentile believers and prevent anyone’s appearance from interfering with their ability to be a witness for Christ. Bible study also makes old familiar verses take on deeper meaning. David’s sorrowful words of repentance in Psalm 51 are even more poignant when we know they refer to his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Bible study, however, is far more than an intellectual exercise; it enables us to know God as He revealed himself in Scripture and then to weave His word into our daily lives.
My doorbell rang and, by the time I got to the door the FedEx man was walking away, having left a large box on the porch. As he backed out of the driveway, I shouted a thanks and brought in my latest order from Amazon.
The elderly Abraham and Sarah laughed at the thought of the two of them making a child and the old Jewish priest Zechariah doubted his barren wife could conceive. Yet, a thirteen-year old virgin believed that she would miraculously bear a son and a pagan Roman officer believed Jesus could heal his servant with just a word.
Devotions of the Heart 