Arise, Shine

Phase 4 – Grace Produces Righteousness

Glory attracts the nations.

Passage: Isaiah 60

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:1–3 (NLT)

“You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT)

Reflection

This is a high point. We have arrived, but we are here because God has acted.

We have just seen the reality, sin separates and no one was found who could fix it. There was no one to stand in the gap.

And then God stepped in. And this moment is not a new direction, it is the result of everything we have just walked through.

“Arise, shine…”, it sounds like a command. Something to do or become. But the reason is given immediately.

“For your light has come.” And this changes everything. You are not being told to produce light, you are being told to respond to it.

And then the contrast is made clear, “Darkness covers the earth… thick darkness is over the peoples…”, because this is the condition of the world.

Confusion. Brokenness. Separation. That has not changed.

“But the Lord rises upon you…” This is the difference.

It’s not human effort here, but Divine action. “His glory appears over you.”

This is not just brightness. This is His reality, His presence, His life now being expressed through His people.

And this is where we must be careful, because it is easy to read this and think, “I need to shine more.” or “I need to become something.”

But that would take us back to trying to produce what only God can give.

The truth is far simpler, light does not strive, it shines.

When God acts, when His life is at work within us, when His presence rests upon His people, His glory becomes visible.

And then comes the result. “Nations will come to your light… and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

Not because of us, but because of Him. This is what God has always intended.

That His people would reflect His glory in such a way that the world is drawn to Him. Drawn back into relationship.

Not by striving to be seen, but by living in what He has done.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank You that the light does not come from me, but from You. Thank You that in a world covered in darkness, You have brought light and life.

Help me not to strive to produce what only You can give, but to live in what You have already done. Let Your presence be at work within me, and Your glory be seen through me.

And may others be drawn, not to me, but to You.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.