“But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in it’s strength.” (Judges 6:31 NIV)
I love this scripture. In fact, when my finger falls over it this morning, it’s already underlined and bracketed. I’ve sat in the warmth of this promise before. Maybe it was when my dad died, or when the estate dealings threatened to eclipse my calling completely. Perhaps it was in the surgical waiting room at Mayo Clinic or it may have been in the purposeless weeks and months that followed our resignation from the only church we’ve pastored. There’s not date scribbled to anchor the text to a specific experience, but I remember sitting here, in the dark of a tough situation, considering the strength of the sun.
The sun is provides warmth and light. It is steady and disciplined, patiently pursuing it’s path across the sky each day. The sun brings life to an otherwise dark world.
Let’s start with warmth and light. The sun warms the earth and fills our days with light. The sun chases away the night. Likewise, believers have the ability to bring warmth and light into any situation because we carry the Spirit of God within us, and in Him there is no shadow or turning.
“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 have the light of life.”” (John 8:12 NIV)
The sun rises each morning and patiently makes it’s way across the sky. The sun is unimpeded by dates on a calendar, temperature, weather, temperament or the actions of others. The sun steadily attends to it’s sacred task day after day, seen or unseen. Believers can exercise the same diligence in prayer, action and attitude. We can honor and serve the Kingdom in plain sight and behind cloud cover. Discipline and devotion keep us plotting our course from here to heaven.
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord will be praised.” (Psalm 113:3 NIV)
The sun is life-giving. It provides light, heat, energy and gravitational pull. It is essential to sustaining life on this planet. Believers impact the world similarly: offering life and hope and prayers and a path to the Savior.
“But you are a chose people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
We are encouraged by the rising sun text: believers serve a profound purpose on this planet. Deborah’s song reminds us that the potential of a God-follower is great – may all who love Him be like the sun. So we ask ourselves a question; what holds us back form such intentionality and strength?
Lord, help us realize our true potential in You. We don’t feel sun-like. Sometimes we struggle, unsteady, undisciplined and with dark thoughts. Remind us of the strength we find in You, strength to soar above circumstances, strength to chase the night away, strength to offer hope and life to others. Fortify us from within is we rise to serve You another day. Amen.