December 1, 2020 – “The After-Glow of Faith!” Reflection

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3. Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.

The first verses that talk about the glory of His light. After-glow is where light has been. It always leaves us changed.

Eighty- three years ago, I stepped into the baptismal waters and experienced an afterglow as I came out of the baptism that washed my sins away. I became a new creature in Christ. I still remember that all new feeling and the after-glow of the Presence of Jesus.

As the years passed, I realized the pathway Jesus had in mind for me. I learned to believe, have faith, learn His Way, learn to trust Him, and I am still learning to ‘love one another’ as He commanded, by doing kindnesses along the way.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.   Ephesians 3:20-21.

He guides us and teaches us as babes in Christ.  For though by this time, you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food. Hebrews 5:12. So many understandings about Jesus comes from the Bible. God is Love, Jesus wept, He arose from the grave, and other short verses became learning stones to the awe and praise of God.  The many Old Testament stories about Abraham, Noah, Joshua, and Moses, my brothers and I heard from our Dad.  Through his vivid story telling we learned the wonders of God’s Works through His Followers.

Now when I see a sparrow, I don’t think of his drabness; I listen to his cheerful song and remember, Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31. When I drink a glass of water I remember, Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ John 7:38. When I see a star I remember, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4.

All these examples become an after-glow of growing and knowing the Lord more deeply.

Faith – For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:12-13.

Trust – Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6.

Love – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2.

Kindness– Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17.

Death has touched me and taught me many things.  When my parents died, when my oldest son died, when my brothers died and when my grandson died.  Death is a teacher. In 2018, after sixty-six years of marriage, my husband died from dementia.  I find joy in searching the night sky for a star.  It is then I praise God for the day He has given me and remember him.  When Covid-19 descended on our world, it is another teaching, and testing of faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10b.

To find a blessing from God in every corner of my life gives me joy. When my mother lay dying with pulmonary fibrosis, an older lady near her age came to visit. Afterward, she told me; I love ministering to your Mother.  I went to check on Mother.  Her comment?  I love ministering to my friend! Now I remember this happening and decided this truly an act of love—Ministering to each other.  Thinking of the other person first instead of self.  Both ladies had an after-glow of joy from that visit.

Another friend told me she looked at all that is happening in the world, through His Eyes and from His perspective.  Thinking and delighting in our Lord and Savior brings an after-glow in our hearts.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!  I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.  May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalm 104:31-34.

May your day be filled with the ‘after-glow’ of His Love.