Reflections:Â Stand up and reflect Jesus!
Mud sticks to you and covers the light that shines from within you. Today it’s time to arise and shine. Arise means: “stand up”! Today, stand up into all God has for you. Standing up takes strength and action on your part, it takes movement. Have you ever tried to make a child stand when they don’t want to? It’s hard! We must choose to stand. This pinnacle verse in Isaiah is a declaration: stand up out of your past, out of the things that hold you down–arise. But don’t just stand up, shine! This means a quality of brightness produced when light is reflected on something. Isaiah is not saying, “Arise and produce light”. No! He is saying “Stand up and be a mirror to God’s goodness, God’s mercy, God’s grace, Jesus’ love, Jesus’ promises in your family, in your community.” Because the light of life lives in you, be the mirror that reflects him to the world.
Questions: What are some aspects of your past (or present) that may be ‘mud’ covering you, that you can choose to stand up out of today?
Prayers:Â I thank you God that, today, I will arise out of the mess, wash off the mud and reflect you. Send me into places today that need your light and let me shine.