We Are Children of the Light - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 1

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We Are Children of the Light
By Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:5, NIV

As the sun began to set over White Sands National Park, the sprawling gypsum dunes that had been a blinding white during the day reflected shadows from the changing light. The blue sky started to glow with bright colors of orange, pink, and gold. Both the sky and the sand turned into an open canvas, reflecting changing light in every direction. My husband and I stood on top of one the tallest sand dunes to take in the wonderful sight. The beauty the light revealed was an awe-inspiring display of the Creator’s design. A panorama of colorful light surrounded us. We were so excited to experience God’s wonder in such an immersive way that we walked in circles on top of the dune together. That way, we could enjoy and celebrate the light coming toward us from all directions.

Just as the sun sends light into our days, Jesus, the Light of the World, enlightens our souls. He calls us to reflect his light – to be “children of the light and children of the day,” as 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says. God wants us to live lives that shine brightly in this fallen world that’s full of darkness.

The Bible’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:5 remind us of our identity and mission. We are not of the night or the darkness. Instead, we belong to the day, called to let God’s light shine through us to point others to hope. As believers, we have the important responsibility to reflect God’s light in everything we do. 

Reflecting God’s light requires us to be intentional about living holy lives. Just as the dunes of White Sands reflect the light of sunsets, our lives should reflect the character of Jesus. This means living with love and walking in truth, with God’s help, day by day. We should do our best to choose words and actions that point others to the hope they can find in Jesus.

The broken world we live in is full of the darkness of sin and despair. But as children of the light, we can overcome the darkness around us. God has given us sparks of his light in our souls that we can shine through our relationships with Jesus. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Our lives should highlight the power of God’s love, so the people we meet can see that God can give them the hope they need. 

Living as children of the light is not easy. It requires courage to stand for truth in a culture that often rejects it. It demands grace and forgiveness in painful situations. Most of all, living as children of the light means letting God’s love flow through us to others. It challenges us to intentionally choose kind words and actions and share the Gospel message with people who are searching for hope. Every day, we can find new opportunities to shine as children of the light. We can reflect God’s light anytime and anywhere we choose to do our best to live with love and point others to God. 

Just as the wonderful light of sunsets inspires us with awe, we can inspire others by living as children of the light in the darkness of this fallen world. So, let’s remember our calling. Let’s turn away from darkness and toward light with every opportunity we have to do so. God will work through our lives in wonderful ways as we reflect his light to people who need to see it!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to live as a child of God who reflects his light, reflect on these questions: 

  • Watch a sunset. How does it inspire you to reflect God’s light in your life? 
  • In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to live as a “child of the light”? 
  • What practical steps can you take this week to intentionally reflect God’s love and holiness to the people who know you? 
  • How can you encourage others to walk in God’s light by starting relationships with Jesus

Further Reading:
John 8:12
Matthew 5:14-16
Ephesians 5:8-9
Philippians 2:15
Psalm 27:1

Photo Credit: © Pexels/Leah Kelley 


headshot of author Whitney HoplerWhitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com

Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community

Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

 

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Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

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We Are Children of the Light - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 1

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

The Crosswalk Devotional updated banner logo

We Are Children of the Light
By Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:5, NIV

As the sun began to set over White Sands National Park, the sprawling gypsum dunes that had been a blinding white during the day reflected shadows from the changing light. The blue sky started to glow with bright colors of orange, pink, and gold. Both the sky and the sand turned into an open canvas, reflecting changing light in every direction. My husband and I stood on top of one the tallest sand dunes to take in the wonderful sight. The beauty the light revealed was an awe-inspiring display of the Creator’s design. A panorama of colorful light surrounded us. We were so excited to experience God’s wonder in such an immersive way that we walked in circles on top of the dune together. That way, we could enjoy and celebrate the light coming toward us from all directions.

Just as the sun sends light into our days, Jesus, the Light of the World, enlightens our souls. He calls us to reflect his light – to be “children of the light and children of the day,” as 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says. God wants us to live lives that shine brightly in this fallen world that’s full of darkness.

The Bible’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:5 remind us of our identity and mission. We are not of the night or the darkness. Instead, we belong to the day, called to let God’s light shine through us to point others to hope. As believers, we have the important responsibility to reflect God’s light in everything we do. 

Reflecting God’s light requires us to be intentional about living holy lives. Just as the dunes of White Sands reflect the light of sunsets, our lives should reflect the character of Jesus. This means living with love and walking in truth, with God’s help, day by day. We should do our best to choose words and actions that point others to the hope they can find in Jesus.

The broken world we live in is full of the darkness of sin and despair. But as children of the light, we can overcome the darkness around us. God has given us sparks of his light in our souls that we can shine through our relationships with Jesus. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Our lives should highlight the power of God’s love, so the people we meet can see that God can give them the hope they need. 

Living as children of the light is not easy. It requires courage to stand for truth in a culture that often rejects it. It demands grace and forgiveness in painful situations. Most of all, living as children of the light means letting God’s love flow through us to others. It challenges us to intentionally choose kind words and actions and share the Gospel message with people who are searching for hope. Every day, we can find new opportunities to shine as children of the light. We can reflect God’s light anytime and anywhere we choose to do our best to live with love and point others to God. 

Just as the wonderful light of sunsets inspires us with awe, we can inspire others by living as children of the light in the darkness of this fallen world. So, let’s remember our calling. Let’s turn away from darkness and toward light with every opportunity we have to do so. God will work through our lives in wonderful ways as we reflect his light to people who need to see it!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to live as a child of God who reflects his light, reflect on these questions: 

  • Watch a sunset. How does it inspire you to reflect God’s light in your life? 
  • In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to live as a “child of the light”? 
  • What practical steps can you take this week to intentionally reflect God’s love and holiness to the people who know you? 
  • How can you encourage others to walk in God’s light by starting relationships with Jesus

Further Reading:
John 8:12
Matthew 5:14-16
Ephesians 5:8-9
Philippians 2:15
Psalm 27:1

Photo Credit: © Pexels/Leah Kelley 


headshot of author Whitney HoplerWhitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com

Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community

Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

 

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