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By Elizabeth Prata
We've all got our favorite metaphors from the Bible and mine's the "light". Just before I was converted, I first understood sin and redemption as concepts of darkness and light. Afterward, I loved the idea of Jesus as the Light, his glory brightness, and the glittering heaven where His light is shining forever.
As I lived aboard a sailboat for two years (pre-conversion era) there are now many metaphors that I gravitate to through that life experience that I cherish. Like lighthouses, anchors, the storms of life, waves buffeting, etc. But especially the lighthouse with the light!
Yesterday I read the following in the Valley of Vision, the Puritan devotional prayers (Ladies, get this book! I mean it!!)
Let not "Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light, so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life. Teach me what to do." ~Valley of Vision, God the Spirit
How often are we content with 'a little light'? Half the time I think I'm content with it because I have allowed my eyes to adjust to the dimness and that has become my comfortable status quo. And how I do love the status quo. The other half of the time I think it's because if I allow full-blast Light into my life it'd expose too many idols, sins, and pet behaviors I don't want exposed. It's a brave thing to ask for "more light". I need to be braver.
Then a short while later I read this-
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
More light also means more love. As we grow in understanding of who God is, we love Him more. Doctrine inspires love for the one who wrote it as we strive to live it.
More light also means, gulp, more obedience. As we grow in understanding of who God is, we love Him more and we want to obey him more- because of who He is.
It's a brave thing to ask for more Light. Do I have such courage? I must. And even if I don't, I must.
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| A little light |
We've all got our favorite metaphors from the Bible and mine's the "light". Just before I was converted, I first understood sin and redemption as concepts of darkness and light. Afterward, I loved the idea of Jesus as the Light, his glory brightness, and the glittering heaven where His light is shining forever.
As I lived aboard a sailboat for two years (pre-conversion era) there are now many metaphors that I gravitate to through that life experience that I cherish. Like lighthouses, anchors, the storms of life, waves buffeting, etc. But especially the lighthouse with the light!
Yesterday I read the following in the Valley of Vision, the Puritan devotional prayers (Ladies, get this book! I mean it!!)
Let not "Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light, so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life. Teach me what to do." ~Valley of Vision, God the Spirit
How often are we content with 'a little light'? Half the time I think I'm content with it because I have allowed my eyes to adjust to the dimness and that has become my comfortable status quo. And how I do love the status quo. The other half of the time I think it's because if I allow full-blast Light into my life it'd expose too many idols, sins, and pet behaviors I don't want exposed. It's a brave thing to ask for "more light". I need to be braver.
Then a short while later I read this-
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
Open mine eyes - David was not blind, his eye was not dim. He could read the Bible from end to end, and yet felt that he needed more light. He felt that he needed to see deeper, to have the eyes of his understanding opened. He felt that if he had nothing but his own eyes and natural understanding, he would not discover the wonders that he panted to see. He wanted Divine teaching, the eye-salve of the Spirit, and therefore he would not open the Bible without this prayer, 'Open Thou mine eyes! ~Robert Murray M'Cheyne, The Believer's JoyNot content with a little light, David yearned for and even begged for more light. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to receive more Light (i.e more understanding of who God is through His word). David was a grievous sinner as we know, but he repented fully and threw himself upon the throne of grace asking for forgiveness and as we see here, understanding. This is why he was a man after God's own heart.
More light also means more love. As we grow in understanding of who God is, we love Him more. Doctrine inspires love for the one who wrote it as we strive to live it.
More light also means, gulp, more obedience. As we grow in understanding of who God is, we love Him more and we want to obey him more- because of who He is.
It's a brave thing to ask for more Light. Do I have such courage? I must. And even if I don't, I must.
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| More light |
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