Week Two – Moons and Mirrors
written by Carolyn Lawrence
Picture: Taken at Uluru, Australia
Reflecting the light
Have you ever been out on a clear night when there is a full moon? Sometimes it can be so bright that it is easy to see your way around even without a torch. It’s amazing that the moon has no light of its own but is merely reflecting the light of the sun. Apparently even at its brightest the moon only mirrors 3-12% of the sun’s light which shows just how much light the sun gives.
There are, however, some stages in the moon’s cycle where we can barely see any reflected light and then our nights are plunged into darkness.
Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, we as Christians are called to be mirrors reflecting the love of Jesus to the world around us.
During this season of Lent, we seek to draw near to God though reading the Bible and prayer, listening for his still small voice, seeking his guidance and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us. As we do this, God begins to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. In Galatians 5: 22 we read, ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.’ As these fruits grow we become more like Jesus and more adequately reflect his character to those around us through our own attitudes, words and actions.
When we are walking closely with Jesus, those around us can’t help but see his light reflected in our lives. When we wander away from God’s presence, there is not so much light to reflect and those around us struggle in the darkness.
To ponder:
- In which areas of your life and with which groups of people do you most need to reflect the love of God?
- Which of the fruits of the Spirit would you like to grow more of in your life?
- How closely are you walking with Jesus? Do others see his light reflected in your life?
Prayer: Loving Lord Jesus, help me to walk closely with you – to regularly read your word and spend time with you so that the fruit of the Spirit grows in my life and I become more like you in my thoughts, attitudes, words and actions. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, I pray that my life will reflect your love to all those I meet so that they too will be drawn to know you as their saviour and friend.
Hymn: Singing the Faith 107 I sing the almighty power of God
Bible link: 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’
These Lent reflections are written to link with the 2017 Easter Offering Dedication service, ‘Shine like Stars’ which will be used by most circuits of the Methodist Church in Britain during the weeks following Easter. Orders of service and other resources can be found at www.mwib.org.uk
