Shine Bright For Jesus – Devotion 4
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Shine Bright For Jesus Devotion Series Intro
“Shine bright for Jesus!”
This is my all time favorite mom quote! I find myself including this in almost every conversation I have with my kids. I love shining bright for Jesus, and love reminding my kids to shine bright for Him as well. At times it can be a challenge. And, God understands this! That’s why He’s available 24/7. He wants us to know this with all our heart and live it out daily. It sure does take a conscience effort, though, to keep God at the center of our everything. Are you all about that sparkle?! I am and I’m here to encourage you to be as well. Shining bright for Him can make all the difference inward and outward.
I love how every time I open my Bible a new verse speaks to me and has me pondering how I can be more like Him as the days wear on. And, the Bible is filled with so many great verses reminding us how to shine bright for Jesus. I’m on a mission not only to fill my Bible journal with them all but to spread them around like little rays of sunshine, so this is a devotion series that will be continually growing, and there’s no set order for reading them in. Make sure to check back often and join me as I seek out all the little bursts of sunshine the Bible is flooded with to help us all keep shining as we go.
Shine Bright Devotion 4
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Shine Bright Scripture Chat
I absolutely love the analogy these verses paint for me. God’s bright light is a great treasure that fills us!
“Fragile Clay Jars”
Have you ever thought of yourself as a fragile clay jar? Oh boy, have I ever! And, I say this in a good and bad way. I’m glad my soul is dependent on God, because I know His power is sufficient. But, on the other hand there are times when life gets so tough my heart feels like it’s literally shattered into a million pieces and being a fragile clay jar is just no fun at all. So, yeah! I find encouragement in these verses. Paul is reminding me it’s ok to be a fragile clay jar, and what’s even better is his message doesn’t stop at the “hey, you’re a fragile clay jar” comment, he keeps going with a message of illuminating hope bursting out from that little helpful reminder. Paul’s motivation brightly shines through in this passage of the Bible as he urges the church in Corinth, and us too, not to give up. (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Shine Bright Self-Work
Have you ever uttered this advice – “you’re stronger than you think” – to someone you love? Or, better yet, has someone ever had to remind you of this truth? (If not…time to pause for an important message from your Sparkle Coach…I’m here to tell you – “YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK!! Ok, let’s get back to it. Keep reading.”) Finish up verse 7 and you’ll get where I’m going with this.
God’s great power is our strength! There will be times where that “fragile clay jar” will have significant meaning in your life, and when that happens I’m praying that 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 will be a few verses that pop up in your mind and give you the motivation Paul intended when he urged the church in Corinth, and US TOO, to not give up and to let others see God’s bright light shining in them/YOU.
Shine Bright Goals
So how do we get this great treasure shining bright in our hearts?! By opening up our Bibles and filling our hearts!
Once we enter into a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us, He will stir our hearts at the core and help us tap into this great treasure! God’s glory will become more abundantly clear, and through the light we will be able to see His glory for all it’s worth.
It’s time to allow God to begin a wonderful work inside us! It’s time to allow His light to touch our hearts!
SHINE ON
REFLECT ON IT – Is your life filled with this great treasure Paul speaks of? Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you been spending enough time in God’s presence to really know just how radiant His glory shines in and around you? How can you let others see God’s bright light in your heart today? Remember, we were not made to do life without Him, but we’ve been given the choice – free will. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Mark 8:34, John 1:12, Galatians 5:16, Revelations 3:20) It’s up to us whether or not we allow God to work in and through us, and even though we are fragile clay jars (which isn’t always bad) we are strong because we have the power of Jesus Christ at our disposal.
Now, lift up a prayer and go out and SHINE BRIGHT FOR JESUS today!
A note from the author –
I’m all about Sonshine in my soul! I love sparkling bright for my Savior and Lord. I’m so happy you are searching out how you can shine bright for Jesus. I pray others see Jesus in you as you go out and shine bright!
-Becky
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