Fireflies

Fireflies showed up around here in mid-June. A friend from Texas calls them lightning bugs. The insects possess light-emitting organs. The nocturnal winged adult beetles emit a soft intermittent light from the abdomen to aid in mate selection. The larval form of the beetles, glow worms, emit light from the abdomen to warn prey.

The little pinpoints of light that I saw in the night air reminded me of some of what Matthew wrote about light and Jesus.

Matthew 4:16 – The people who sat (dwelt enveloped) in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the land and shadow of death Light has dawned. (AMP)

Matthew 5:14,16 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honour and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. (AMP)

Jesus stated that people have light-emitting capabilities.

Some of His followers have brought light to me in times of darkness. I give thanks for the witness of His many people who have touched my life and guided me to His light by listening, giving a gentle touch, providing kind attention, asking a subtle question, writing something, teaching a Sunday School lesson, leading a Vacation Bible School program, telling a story, offering a gift, bringing humour, or making a visit. The light can take on as many forms as there are people with a need for light and loving persons who notice and respond with a spark.

You may know the song I learned in Sunday School, "Jesus bids us shine". In the final stanza, it says, "In this world of darkness, so let us shine, you in your small corner, and I in mine." This leads me to ask a question. Is there one little pinpoint of light that each of us could shine for someone today? Our combined pinpoints, glowing together, enhanced by the presence of the Holy Spirit, make megawatts of God's powerful love.

Prayer: Father, we pray and ask in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord that we may max out our light-emitting activities, and deflect all the thanks and glory to You, our infinite and eternal source of light. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook