What is the origin of my reflection?
[Jesus said,] “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.
The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.” – John 3:17-21 (CEV)
When God created, the first thing that Genesis 1 lists is light. And light did not just exist as only day. Even during the night, there is light. Stars are as bright in their galaxies as our own sun is in ours. The earth’s moon is a reflected light from that great star, the sun, and provides many of our nights with light that dispells the shadows of darkness.
I see God’s desire that light be the predominant characteristic of my life. If I live this life with my deeds, even my words and thoughts, revealed by the Light, His presence, then my life will be a light that shines before others, destroying the darkness of this world, and points them to their Redeemer.
My life is a testimony to what God can do despite the destructive forces at work in this world. I have men and women who truly are brothers and sisters, not because of biology, political ideology, geography, education or even religious beliefs. They are my siblings because we were created by the same Father God and are loved by Him.
As I reflect today, may my thoughts consider the Son of Man and His example, His words as He submitted to His tormenters, “Father, You forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” And finish with Jesus’ final words, “Into Your hands, I commit my spirit.” All is well, my friends. All is well.
“Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from his Nobel Lecture delivered at the University of Oslo, Dec. 11, 1964
His Eye is on the Sparrow by Charles H. Gabriel & Civilla D. Martin & sung by God’s children