It was the final Saturday sunrise for September 2021. The hues of color that spanned the morning sky were stunning. Realizing that the moment would soon fade, I hurried back to the house to grab my camera. Above the tree peaks were orange, pink, blue, and gray bands.
As the sun was rising from the east, God was calling attention to the greatness of His creation. Only He could orchestrate such beauty.
The hues of the morning sky would also introduce an array of exposure to life under the sun. The dawn releases new mercy and a pouring out of God’s unearned grace.
The sunrise signals another day to strengthen our trust in God. We can breathe deeply, knowing that He will guide us through the day if we trust and believe.
We may face problematic and sometimes-peculiar dynamics of human relationships on any given day. It may be cynicism, hatefulness, false accusations, and jealousy where the motives are designed to cripple us beyond recovery, destroy our hope, silence our giftings and crush our destiny. God, however, has the power to shine through the darkest of darkness. Through His Son, Jesus the Christ, He beckons us to come, to follow him to the light.
Jesus’ message is always illuminating. John, the gospel writer and beloved disciple of Jesus, recounts the Messiah’s dawn appearance at the temple courts. In a portion of the narrative, we find Jesus’s own words: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)
Christ’s light living inside gives us strength to overcome the deeds of darkness not with worldly responses but with love and Godly wisdom. I don’t know about you, but I have struggled in this area. There have been times when I’ve handled matters in ways that were not pleasing to God. I am so grateful that He forgives! I can almost hear Him saying, “Okay, not quite the response I was hoping for, let’s try again.”
Like the hues of the morning sky, transformation often occurs within the context of human relationships. Through Christ, our trials, struggles, pain, and disappointment become illuminating pathways to spiritual growth. Through Him, we can rise above the darkness and see the dawn.
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he instructs the believers to walk as children of light, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11, NIV).
You may question this biblical truth and wonder how this can be possible. But I must ask, are you ready for a new life? If so, then take a giant leap forward, give up the darkness and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. He gave His life for you, and His arms are wide open to receive you. It doesn’t matter how deep in the darkness you are at this moment. It doesn’t matter what you have said or done. Neither your past nor your present excludes you. He died to rescue all of us from the domain of darkness and bring us into the glorious light of His kingdom.
I say to you give Jesus Christ a chance. It may be for the first time, or it may be the renewal of the relationship you once had with God, but for whatever reason, you walked away.
I pray that every sunrise will be a reminder of His greatness, His power to save, and His amazing love for you.
Choose Him, Choose Light, Choose Life.
Blessings
Phyllis
PHYLLIS A. CLEMONS 