"Light of Righteousness" by Karolyn Parsons
- Proverbs 13:1 A son who heeds his father’s discipline is wise,
but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 A [good] man enjoys good as a result of what he says,
but the essence of the treacherous is violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
but one who talks too much comes to ruin.
4 The lazy person wants but doesn’t have;
the diligent get their desires filled.
5 A righteous person hates lying,
but the wicked is vile and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness protects him whose way is honest,
but wickedness brings down the sinner.
7 There are those with nothing who pretend they are rich,
also those with great wealth who pretend they are poor.
8 The rich man may have to ransom his life,
but a poor man gets no threats.
9 The light of the righteous [shines] joyfully,
but the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
10 Insolence produces only strife,
but wisdom is found with those who take advice.
***The biblical writer’s words “snuffed out” stand out. To be snuffed out means to be extinguished or smothered, nothing left. The words remind me of several cave tours that I have done with my adventure-seeking son. Caves are inherently dark. Some caves had lights which could be turned on and others could only be seen by flashlight. Inevitably, somewhere along the tour, we would be told it was time for “total darkness.” All lights would be shut off, all cell phones and cameras were to be hidden, and we were to experience what it would be like without any kind of light at all. It was always so dark that you could not even see your hand in front of your face!
When we say the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out, I think of this kind of total darkness. The light of the righteous is the light of God shining through faithful people to illuminate the power of God at work among us. God’s light brings life, hope, love, and power to the world around us. The light of the righteous outshines the darkness of the wicked.
Hymn for Today: "The Light of the World is Jesus" by Philip P. Bliss
1. The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain: Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain: Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain: Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
4. No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain: Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Thought for Today: Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”(John 8:12).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Fiji'
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