Jul
13
2018
Lights In A Field
Posted in Evangelism 4 Comments
On Wednesday evenings throughout the summer, I attend a women’s bible study.
It is a blessing to be with women from my church.
The bible study is in a home.
Each week a different women leads the group.
This past week was my turn to lead.
After teaching a bible study in my home for nine months of the year, it is nice to sit.
It is nice to be a student.
It is wonderful to glean from each of the women.
As I was driving home on the country roads, I saw them.
Hundreds of fireflies lit up a field.
I was the only person driving on the road.
I was able to slow down and simply enjoy.
The fireflies were putting on a light show.
The fireflies were dancing across the field.
The entire area, as far as I could see, was aglow.
Subtle light flickered over here, over there, and then over here again.
All I could do in that moment was marvel.
I was in awe of the beauty.
It was as if there were tiny little flashlights all over the field.
Thank you, Father for creating something so spectacular.
I wanted to pull over and plop myself in the middle of the field and watch.
I knew that the field was part of a someone’s farm.
My front row seat from the road would have to do.
I had a wonderful view, but I was not as close as I wanted.
I remember catching lightning bugs in a mayonnaise jar when I was a little girl.
All the children in the neighborhood would wait until dark.
You would see the children on their lawns just waiting for the right time.
You would ask your mother to poke holes in the lid of the jar so the fireflies would have air.
Some children put a bit of grass in their jars.
The grass was placed inside the jars in case the lightning bugs got hungry.
Who knows if the holes in the lid or the grass in the jar was necessary?
It was all part of the summer ritual.
All at once, it would begin.
Children would run all over their lawns trying to catch a lightning bug in their jar.
There would always be someone brave enough to catch a lightning bug in their hand.
I remember the first time I caught a lightning bug in my hand and saw it up close.
As I watched, the lightning bug lit up, right there in the palm of my hand.
I turned the lightning bug over and could actually see where the light was coming from.
The light came from an area on the lower abdomen.
It was as if God gave me a living flashlight to illuminate my summer night.
I remember catching a lightning bug in a mayonnaise jar.
I remember wanting to put that jar on my nightstand next to my bed.
I remember falling asleep watching the little light shine.
I remember thinking that the light was getting dimmer; it was not as bright as it had been.
Catching the lightning bug might have been good for me.
Catching the lightning bug and putting it in a jar was not good for the firefly.
The lighting bug needed room to shine.
In captivity, the light dimmed.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
We are to shine like the fireflies I saw on my way home.
As we shine, even a little light illuminates the darkness.
All of us, who are believers in the Lord Jesus, shine His light into a dark world.
As each of us shine; the world notices.
The world has a front row seat to our light show.
It is not us who shine as much as it is the One for whom we are shining.
We are shining for Him who is the Source of our light.
We are living flashlights for the Light of the World.
My birthday is coming quite soon.
My dear friend gave me a card that she placed on top of her gift bag.
I opened the card and couldn’t believe the cover.
She had no way of knowing what I saw on my drive home the night before.
She knows me well.
God seems to be trying to teach me something.
I want to be a firefly for God.
I want to shine His light into a dark world.
I agree with Diane, Gina! You shine a beautiful light that lights up so many of us in your Bible study and everywhere you go, and your family has benefited so much by being in your light. You are truly a light in the darkness, shining with God’s power and Word.
Sue, your words of encouragement bless my heart. How I long to be a firefly for God. I love that we can study His Word together, which keeps our light shining brightly.
Gina
Gina, you are a beautiful light that shines brightly for Jesus.
Love you
Thank you, Diane!
Being a light for Him is something we both desire.
Gina