Morning & Evening Daily Devotional Reading– September 6

by Charles H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by William C. Neff

“In the middle of a crooked and perverse generation among whom (we) shine as lights in the world.”

—Philippians 2:15

We use lights to make things obvious. A Christian should so shine in his life that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive who he belongs to and whom he serves. The image of Jesus should be reflected in his daily actions.

Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We’re to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Savior and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God’s Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness.

Lights are also used to give warning. On a rocky coast a lighthouse is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights in the world, and therefore the right light needs to shine. Satan is always tempting the ungodly to sin in the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light and it’s our place to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin and tell what it leads to so that we may be innocent of the blood of all men.

Lights also have a very cheering influence. A Christian ought to be a comforter with kind words on his lips and sympathy in his heart. He should carry sunshine wherever he goes.

Today, let us shine as lights in this world. [M&E]