Could you go outside tonight and point to the Big Dipper in the sky? How about the North Star?
Did you know this? The two stars on the outer edge of the Big Dipper’s bowl (the edge farther from the handle), if you draw a line extending from the star on the bottom through the star on the top, this line takes you directly to the North Star.
It takes a bit of knowledge and practice to figure this out. Bring a child outside under the stars, point to the Big Dipper and say, “See the handle?” The child will likely be confused, looking at hundreds of stars and wondering, “Is that the one?”
But meet that child in your front yard after school and say, “See the sun?” That’ll be no problem. Same with the moon at night. Much more obvious. Less confusion. No need to connect the dots.
Now, ask the child how the moon makes light. Most kids know this. The moon doesn’t generate its own light, but reflects the light of the sun. The sun generates its own light.
The Bible says that Christians are “children of the light” (Ephesians 5:8). In other words, we don’t generate our own light. Like children don’t bring themselves into existence. We reflect a greater light. God’s light.
God’s light is the revealing of who he is and what he does. He shines, and those who believe in who he is and what he does are enlightened. We shine, too.
Others can look at us and say, “I see a reflection of God.” No, we aren’t God. Just like the moon is not the sun. But we shine with God’s light.
So, go and shine today!
PRAYER: Dear God, as the sun shines on a new day, you shine on us with the light of your love. You promise that everyone who believes in you reflects your light like the moon reflects the sun. Shine on me today, and shine through me to others. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Read Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus would later say, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Here he says to those who follow him, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). How does the relationship of the sun and moon help you understand Jesus’ teaching? What is one thing that these words of Jesus make you want to pray?