We all know that as Christians we are to reflect the image of God. The word tells us that in 2 Cor. 3:18. The New Living Translation says it this way, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” So we are supposed to reflect the glory of the Lord, but also be changed more and more into his glorious image, continually.
We often use the moon reflecting the sun as an example of how we as Christians should be reflecting Christ’s glory in our lives. I guess the example isn’t bad, but to me it seems a little bit ambitious. How can I be such a bright light? It is not something I alone can do, I have no merit whatsoever except for Christ. To me it seems a little prideful too. Doesn’t the moon in the night sky cry, “look at me, I’m the brightest object in the sky!”
Those are just my thoughts, maybe you see it differently. I know, in reality we are just thinking of our responsibility in reflecting Him and we mean well in our analogy but I have another comparison I’d like to make. I believe it serves us better.
A couple weeks ago I went outside on the back porch early in the morning. It was a beautiful day. The sun was still low in the sky and the dew was heavy on the grass. As I stood there admiring the creation of our God on that beautiful, warm autumn morning. While standing there I noticed the reflection of the sun on every dew drop in the yard. There were millions of points of light! It was blinding, and breathtaking! Every blade of grass looked as though it had at least one droplet of dew on it and every droplet of dew had a perfect refection of the sun.
We often use the moon reflecting the sun as an example of how we as Christians should be reflecting Christ’s glory in our lives. I guess the example isn’t bad, but to me it seems a little bit ambitious. How can I be such a bright light? It is not something I alone can do, I have no merit whatsoever except for Christ. To me it seems a little prideful too. Doesn’t the moon in the night sky cry, “look at me, I’m the brightest object in the sky!”
Those are just my thoughts, maybe you see it differently. I know, in reality we are just thinking of our responsibility in reflecting Him and we mean well in our analogy but I have another comparison I’d like to make. I believe it serves us better.
A couple weeks ago I went outside on the back porch early in the morning. It was a beautiful day. The sun was still low in the sky and the dew was heavy on the grass. As I stood there admiring the creation of our God on that beautiful, warm autumn morning. While standing there I noticed the reflection of the sun on every dew drop in the yard. There were millions of points of light! It was blinding, and breathtaking! Every blade of grass looked as though it had at least one droplet of dew on it and every droplet of dew had a perfect refection of the sun.
It occurred to me that this is what the church should look like in the world. Each of those droplets had a perfect reflection of the sun on them. I didn’t even notice the grass that, like humans, was so connected to the earth, roots in the dirt. What I saw was something heavenly. Dew that had come from above and rested on each blade of grass, giving me the illusion of a million little suns in the yard. That is like the work of the Holy Spirit. We live in a body that is frail and week and tied to the dirt of the world, but the Lord does a great work in us . He places his very Spirit in us and allows us to shine!
When we look at the moon in the night sky, it is the focus. We don’t even think of the sun. When we see the moon, we see craters and hash marks, and imperfections. The world has seen enough of the imperfections of the church, they need to see Christ. If each of us start allowing Him to reflect unity, love, joy, and so on, in us, they will see Him rather than us. Instead of showing the world who we are through Christ, let’s just show them Christ himself. Let’s be changed into His glorious image!
That morning in my back yard I saw what looked to be a million little suns and each of them were pointing me to the source of their light. Let’s show the world Jesus. Let’s do what we can to reflect the light of Christ so that the church looks like a million littleSons, pointing them to the SON of God. If we will, it will be blinding and breathtaking to the world and will honor or Lord who is the source of our light!
Phil. 2:13-15 (GWT) 13 It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God's children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world!
When we look at the moon in the night sky, it is the focus. We don’t even think of the sun. When we see the moon, we see craters and hash marks, and imperfections. The world has seen enough of the imperfections of the church, they need to see Christ. If each of us start allowing Him to reflect unity, love, joy, and so on, in us, they will see Him rather than us. Instead of showing the world who we are through Christ, let’s just show them Christ himself. Let’s be changed into His glorious image!
That morning in my back yard I saw what looked to be a million little suns and each of them were pointing me to the source of their light. Let’s show the world Jesus. Let’s do what we can to reflect the light of Christ so that the church looks like a million littleSons, pointing them to the SON of God. If we will, it will be blinding and breathtaking to the world and will honor or Lord who is the source of our light!
Phil. 2:13-15 (GWT) 13 It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God's children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world!
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