Radiant

I never really liked my forehead. Not only was it big, it was shiny!

I remember as a kid my brothers and sisters would tease me about it sometimes. Teasing and joking was quite common in our household of ten kids! I also remember several years ago applying for a passport. In Canada, the passport offices are very picky about your picture and they refused to accept my shiny forehead photos! Finally after going back to the photographer a third time for retakes she dragged me to the makeup counter and proceeded to powder the shine right off of my face! 

Needless to say, I was intrigued when I read in Exodus 34:35 that …the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone:… Why did Moses have a shiny face? Digging deeper into the scripture I saw that it was because he spent time in the presence of God on Mount Sinai. 

Later on I read another verse in the Psalms about being shiny. Psalm 34:5 says: They looked to him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed… 

Then in Matthew 5:14-16 I read about shining as lights. It says: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

These verses made me stop and think. Maybe having a shiny forehead wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, I wanted to be a shiny person! A person that reflected my Father’s light as I spent time in His presence. 

 Jesus said in John 15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,…Gal 5:22. 

There are a lot of sad things happening in the world so it’s important as believers that we shine. Are we ready to give an answer to every one that asks about the reason for the hope that is within us? 1 Peter 3:15 says: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

Are we radiating love, joy and peace regardless of our circumstances because we are abiding in Christ and are hope is in Him?