Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
2 Corinthians 4: 5-6 The Message
We are all messengers. We convey something when we communicate with other people. It may be positive, or it may be negative. It may be about ourselves, or it may be about someone else. It may be filled with information, or with love. When we speak, we are always conveying some kind of message.
Here in this passage from his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul is very clear about his message. He does not proclaim himself. He is the opposite of a narcissist. Instead, his life, and his message, are all about Jesus Christ. His goal in life is to communicate the good, life-changing, and transformative message of Jesus Christ to all who need to hear.
Paul likens the love of Christ to a light in the darkness. Exposing someone to the love of Christ is like walking into their darkened room, and turning on the lights. All of the sudden, they can see themselves, and everything else clearly.
Many people long to see God. Here, Paul argues that the best and clearest picture we have of the Lord is found when we are staring into the face of Jesus Christ. It is in the loving gaze of our Lord and Savior Jesus that we discover how brightly our Lord’s love shines for us. When we look closely, it is almost enough to blind us. Truly, it will take away any doubts about God’s forgiveness, acceptance, and love.
When life feels dark, gloomy or difficult, turn away from those feelings. Ask the Lord to help shine His light into your life. You must ask the Lord for the light, for He is always ready and waiting for you to turn to Him. I pray that your heart's desire is to seek the light. May the light of Christ shine brightly in your life today, and may you reflect that light to all who need to see it. We, as a church body, can help direct people towards the light. In some ways, the church is the company of the messengers of the light! That is the message Paul is declaring. Therefore, let us all shine forth the light of Christ’s love!
Prayer
Lord of light, thank you for offering to share Your unlimited light with me. You have brightened my life, shining your love into every nook and cranny of my soul. Your light chases away the darkness of evil, in my life, in my community, and in the world. Therefore, let me be a messenger of Your light, burning brightly with Your love. I pray this prayer in the name of Your Son, the light of the world, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
