And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15 ESV)
Have you ever glowed? Sure you have.
Recall that first date you spent hours prepping for, and then blushed when his jaw dropped and your father’s eyes widened as you came down the stairs?
Your prom?
Your graduation?
The day you showed up with the diamond on your finger?
Your wedding day?
When you began to show with your child inside of you? . . .
What about the day you accepted Christ into your heart?
We hear commercials for makeup which will give us a glowing appearance – a touch of warmth, a sun-kissed shimmer. But real glowing comes from the inside and bursts through our pores in a natural radiance. It is the true outward expression of inward joy. Outward applications of foundation, blush or powder fades. The joy that oozes up from inside our hearts it what lasts, no matter what our age.
People are attracted to glowing people like moths to a flame. People who are radiant are positive, happy, appear to have it all together. They are, well attractive, in the true sense of the word. When we are in touch with the Holy Spirit inside of us, Christ’s light radiates out from us, drawing people to Him through us.
But, when we are downcast, melancholy and as blue as Eeyore, then it drives people away. We have busheled Christ’s light by our own “woe-is-me” attitude. The on switch to our inner light has been clicked off. Our world becomes gray and gloomy.
Have you see those commercials for a breakfast sandwich in which the guy dressed up as the sun brings happiness to the clouds, the planets, or the rainbow? He gives them food to change their mood. Their whole appearance changes as they light up and grin. Jesus said He was the Bread of Life for a reason. The food He gives is eternal. But it needs to be our Daily Bread.
If you want to glow, be fed. You need fuel to radiate, like a lamp needs oil or a light bulb needs electricity. Plug back in to your first love through Christian praise music, reading the Word, taking a refreshing walk alone with God, or reviewing your journal to see all the blessings you have been given.
Psalm 51 asks for God to “renew a right spirit in me, cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” Let the Light shine in your heart again. Go to God and ask to be re-ignited. If your tears have drowned the wick, that may take a while. But, it will happen. Ingest His promises, and be filled with His grace. Consider it, pardon the pun, food for thought!
