Thoughts for the Day

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves, we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord....For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness', who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

St Paul is writing to Christians in the city of Corinth around 55AD, probably from Ephesus. He ends this passage with a lovely thought - that God has shone in our hearts. The word for 'light' in Greek is unusual. It was the word used when God led the Israelites through the wilderness with a cloud by day and the light of a fire by night. It means the brightness that comes from something, rather than the light itself - in this case the brightness that comes from God.

I once took a photograph of the sanctuary in St Gabriel's Church, Hanley Swan. Behind the altar were some lovely handmade tiles on the wall, possibly William Morris inspired. I had looked at them hundreds of times, but it was only when we photographs, that the mistakes could be seen. The photos illuminated the incorrect patterns - some had not been painted properly!

God's light shines in us and illuminates our defects, and helps us to know the things we must work on to grow into the people He wants us to be. With God's help we can begin to address these faults, if we ask His help.

Almighty God,
Your light shines in our hearts
enabling us to see what needs changing.
in our lives.
Help us to be honest about ourselves,
and begin to address these faults
to become the people
You designed us to be.
Amen.