Day 4: Burning lamps
"Keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning” (Exodus 27:21).
Our God and heavenly Father, long ago, You revealed Yourself to Your people through symbols and representations—shadows of the glory of Your coming Christ, and of the time when You would pour out Your Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28). You gave instructions to those ministering before You:
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning…. Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning” (Exodus 27:20-21).
But for our times, the Lord Jesus has given His church the gift of the Holy Spirit and has instructed us, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning..." (Luke 12:35).
The wisdom of Your word tells us that The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one's inmost being (Proverbs 20:27). But we have no light of our own—we can only reflect Your light, Your radiance, Your glory. And we can only reflect Your light as we are filled with the oil of Your Spirit, and the brilliance of Your presence.
Father, we are Your children of light in a world that is dark and desperate. Kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in us. Renew our minds with fresh insights into Your mercy; strengthen our hearts with new understanding of Your grace. Give us the love, the faith, the courage, and the resolve to be channels of Your grace.
May we be dressed, ready for service with our lamps burning as the Lord Jesus instructed. May we not just pray that Your kingdom come and Your will be done, but may we do with diligence the kingdom work You have assigned us.
Help us to hold out the light of love to the wounded, weary, anxious, sad, despondent. To the different, distant, unfamiliar. And yes, to the bitter, angry, sullen, hostile. Help us to bring the light of hope to the darkness of despair. Help us to start where we are, one cupful of water at a time.
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