Borrowed Light

I am the light of the world. John 8:12

D.L. MOODY
I heard of an unbeliever once who said, “Look at your convert; it is all moonshine [total lies].” The young convert replied to him, “I thank you for the compliment. We are perfectly willing to be called that. The moon borrows the light from the sun, and so we borrow ours from Christ.”

ERWIN LUTZER
Again, we are reminded that the moon has no light of its own, it only reflects the light of the sun. Just so, we have no spiritual light apart from our dependence on Christ. The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. but it appears to us as just as big as the sun because it is also 400 times closer to Earth. My point: When there is an eclipse of the sun, it’s because the moon blocks the light of the sun, but the sun itself isn’t affected—it’s just as powerful as ever. Just so, when we experience spiritual darkness, God is unaffected; He remains powerful and remains the God of light.
Moody’s point emphasizes that we do indeed receive our light from God even as the moon receives its light from the sun. We read, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Jesus talked about the unbelieving world walking in darkness, and here Paul talks about believers walking in the light.
We walk in the light because of what we know and have experienced. We walk in the light by what we think and say. In context, Paul tells us to not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth. And of course, we have to abstain from sensuality and anger so that we don’t grieve the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:17–31).
Do you feel weary today? Tired because of the demands of life? Tell the Lord how you feel; remind yourself that your light comes from Him. And give God praise that He be glorified.

PRAYER
Father, today, I confess that I have no light of my own. I trust you to be light and life in me.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What helps you reflect Christ’s light?

What hinders you from reflecting Christ?