To Shine Like Stars
After the sermon, multiple people came up saying that Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be healed?” hit home.
We were created to “Shine Like Stars” in the darkness but many of us live diminished lives.
We dim our light.
Watch last Sunday’s sermon “ Shine Like Stars” from our series The Shape Of Our Story
We too easily believe the conclusions the world has given us. And we so quickly abandon the beautiful ones God has revealed to us.
You’ll know when you’ve done this, because the light inside begins to sputter out…
How do we shine when it feels like our light is flickering?
How do we shine when, for some of us, we live with a light snuffed out?
What do we do when our light is just ashes?
There’s a tendency to think that the biblical challenge to “Shine Like Stars” is about self-promotion or selfish ambition, when it’s really about our self-esteem.
Self-esteem is the value that we place on our own worth. It’s literally how we estimate (the root of which is “esteem”) the value of our self.
It was actually God’s great estimation of our lives in creating us, and Jesus’ in saving us, that lifts us and carries us into our true value, beyond what we could ever estimate ourselves.
The Apostle Paul makes a profound comment on estimating and judging ourselves:
“In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Cor 4:3-4)
This isn’t a fearful judgment but one that frees us from self-evaluation, self-criticism, and tempers the voices around us.
Jesus‘ question, “Do you want to be healed?” reveals that Jesus doesn’t just want us to just receive a healing—He wants us to shine.
He wants the exterior blessings that we receive from Him to match an interior reality in our soul.
The work he does around us and for us is meant to affect the world inside us.
He wants our want-er.
He’s getting at the source of our desires.
What sort of life do we want with Him?
This is why Jesus asks, “Do you want to be healed?”
Do we want to deal with the consequences of living healed?
Do we want to become whole in Him?
Are we willing to be loved or are we content with victimization?
Are we comfortable with lies that have been spoken over us? Do we want truth in our innermost being? (Psalm 51:6)
Are we under-estimating our value in God’s eyes?
Do we really want to believe in our heart of hearts what He has said about us?
God’s heart is “To comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit… that he may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:2-3).
And Jesus says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3).
This Sunday, we’ll see the powerful reality that Jesus’ compassion fueled His ministry, as we consider The Shape of our Story in a sermon titled, “A Broken Heart.”
See you there,
Pastor Dave
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If this topic is hitting home, I invite you to pause for 10 minutes and receive from Jesus‘ presence.
Listen to this simple, prayerful song, and let the scriptures and the worship touch those places where you’ve been diminished.
Receive from Jesus…
