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Colossians 2:9-10 – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (NIV)
The other day, I was sitting reading, when the sun burst forth, streaming through my window. The window held a recent stained glass piece that I had hung to allow it to dry fully. As the sunbeams hit the already beautiful glass, every colourful shard was illuminated to its full potential. Each piece came alive in stunning radiance.
This episode made me think how Christ, dwelling within us, has the power to light up every aspect of our lives, bringing us to our full human potential in Him. For this to happen, however, we must learn to walk in His light, the truth of His Word. We must learn to listen for and obey the Holy Spirit as He guides us from within.
Ephesians 4:22-24 – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV)
Walking in the light of Christ's truth day by day is like the sun streaming through the stained glass. The sun highlights the beauty which already exists within the glass. Likewise, Christ within us has the power to take the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with and make them shine in the fullness of their glory for His kingdom within this world. His light blesses us that we might bless one another and that we might be an encouragement to those already within the fold of Christianity and the light of truth to those who still dwell in darkness.
My stained glass pieces have no choice in regard to where they are placed. I make that decision. But as human beings, we make our own choices, whether to dwell in the shadows and miss out on all that we are meant to be, or to walk in the light of Christ's love, allowing it to shine through us in all its radiant fullness.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for creating us in Your image and blessing each of us with incredible beauty. Help us to choose to walk boldly each and every day in the light of Your truth, Jesus Christ, that we might be fully illuminated from within and become all that You have intended us to be. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
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Thank you.
Good one. Thanks.
Beautiful, thank you.
Another good one, Lynne.
Great devotional. Thank you.
Thank you, Lynne, God bless!
Thank you, Lynne. May we all walk in His light!
Oh Lynne, what a beautiful and understandable analogy. Thank you.
And all your readers say Amen!
Thank you so much for your devotionals.
A wonderful illustration! And I was reminded to make sure the glass is CLEAN. Thank you, Lord!
Thanks Lynne,
I am always blessed by your devotional.
Blessings.
Vivid and memorable image here, Lynn, that lodges your devotional truth in my heart today. Thanks for sharing this analogy.
Hi Lynne,
I enjoyed your devotional today.
It brought to mind this song by Keith Green about us being like stained glass windows for God. Thanks for sharing. I know your stained-glass masterpiece must be breathtakingly beautiful!
Hello Lynn,
Many thanks for another very meaningful devotional. Yes, our lives are so much happier and brighter when we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit from within.
Blessings for a bright and beautiful day!
(B.C.)
Lynne, thank you for your inspiring writing that reaches out to people like me and gets me to think deeper.
Over the years I copy many of your messages as well as others who inspire me and I copy them onto my iPad for reflection. At times I share them with a men’s group as well as others, but they are mainly for my rereading and reflection.
I don’t know how you come up with your ideas, but I want you to know they are truly appreciated.
May God continue to bless you and yours. Please keep being inspired and writing as you have time.
Lynne;
I appreciate your writing so much! I have even quoted you in sermons from time to time. You have a gift for taking snapshots of our daily lives and holding them up to scripture in a way that we can all relate to.
Your devotional today reminded me of a quote I wrote down in the early 80s from the Reader’s Digest. Children had been asked what makes a person a saint. One child, probably thinking of stained-glass windows and sunshine said, ‘saints are people that the light shines through.’
But how apropos! When we are living close to God, by the power of the Spirit, the light of Christ may well shine through us and lighten up the dark places of the world.
I pray it may be so in my life and yours!
Blessings on your devotional.
Ministry and the other ways you serve God.
I like the idea of God making our gifts and talents shine with his light.
My oldest cat died this weekend.
She was a caretaker cat, and very much a source of her creator’s light to her humans and cat family.
Hi Lynn,
Good devotional. You are right, we do indeed make our own choices. Hopefully they are always good ones.
Thank you for writing, I always enjoy your devotionals.
Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Lynne, this was a beautiful message and so encouraging! Thank you so much! May we always walk in the light of God’s truth! Blessings.
Hello, Lynne,
As always, you have encouraged my eager desire to follow our Lord with purposeful life,
sharing His love with folk around me in need of comfort and companionship. We have such a diverse community of residents and care-giving staff that every day brings new reasons to thank God for His blessings.
May your thoughtful writing continue to grace these future devotions, and may you some day soon grace us with a visit.