Arise and Shine

Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)

The command is given to awake, arise and to shine. I’m sure most of us will have memory of a time when all we’ve wanted to do is stay in bed asleep. Many will remember times particularly as a teenager when our parents have come and given the command to get out of bed, now! They’ve told us to awake and arise because the day has begun. There is work for us to do and we can’t remain in bed asleep. The same is true for us spiritually. The command is given to awake and arise. In receiving this command, we are filled with the glorious knowing that the glory of the Lord has risen upon us and that our light has come. We are filled with this knowing and this hope and receive the call to shine. In John 1:9 we read that the true Light (Jesus Christ) has come into the world and enlightened every man. The question then is not ‘will we be enlightened’, because He enlightens every man; we have been enlightened; His light and glory has risen upon us. Instead the question is ‘what do we do with our enlightenment?’ Our calling is to arise and shine. To shine the light of His glory. The glory given to Him by the Father and the glory which He has now given to us (John 17:22-24). This is the glory and light of sonship. Let’s do something with our enlightenment. Let’s arise and shine and bring forth the fruit of sonship in Christ. Let’s be illuminated so that the pathway ahead is seen and known and fruitful. Let’s be illuminated to the glorious hope of our calling in Christ