"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden" (Mathew 5:14)
The brethren of the famous East African revival had a Luganda saying, "okutambula mu'musaana", loosely translated as "walking in the light!" But what did they mean? To appreciate this let's look at what happens when darkness invades the earth at night. Of course a lot is hidden and no wonder most dirty practices take place at night. House burglars, swindlers and street prostitutes all come out in full swing with the cover of darkness to thrive.
But once light dawns they quickly melt away. This of course does not mean an end to their dirty practices. What most resort to is then to hide. For their evil to flourish they will look for a place far from light, pull the shades down and in darkness carry out their mission. But once light shines on them they quicky melt away!
There is a certain burden one walks with whenever they are running away from light! One has to be watchful, ever casting his eyes about, fearful that once light shines on them a lot will be revealed. This is why certain people have to wear shades or drive cars fast with tinted glasses. For while on the outward they put on a brave self assured face; inward they tremble with fear if the light ever falls on them and the "world gets to know!" In a sense they are trapped in a jail of darkness.
Freed from this torturous past, after accepting Jesus Christ as a personal saviour, the brethren declared themselves as "children of the light!" There was nothing to hide anymore. They no longer walked with that fearful burden of suddenly being discovered. All their actions were carried out in "full day light" without anything more to "hide"!
And then you know know what, the "children of darkness" would eye them with secret envy, wishing they too could also be freed from the burden that was making them sleepless even at night. And yes of course, if they only knew, all starts once one accepts Jesus as a personal saviour, is Born Again, to start experiencing the joys of "walking in the light!"
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy to be a child of the light, no longer burdened with hiding in darkness, because I have been freed by accepting Jesus Christ as a personal saviour, and for this I am thankful, this I pray in Jesus' name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
