Proverbs 28:13–17 ‘Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.’ (vv13–14)
God’s intention is that we live transparent lives. This is not that everybody enjoys access to our personal life. What it means is that we live in obedience to God’s will and purpose, with the result that the light of God’s reality shines through us. The Latin word is transparens and the idea is that God comes into sight through us. What a privilege and responsibility; God seeks to make Himself known today through you and me. Leonard Cohen, in his song Anthem, penned these now famous words: ‘Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in’. Describing the lyrics in a rare radio interview, he said, ‘The future is no excuse for an abdication of your own personal responsibilities towards yourself and your job and your love.’
When the future looks uncertain, God reminds us to focus on the present moment. The bells we ring are those chiming with God’s grace shining through our fractured humanity. Our future obviously includes our personal life, together with our work and relationships, but always with our gaze centred on Jesus. In this way, usually without any awareness, God’s light shines through us and we are a source of encouragement to people near and far. Often when we feel at the end of ourselves the light shines brightest, as it must when darkness encompasses us.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 18:25–36; Isa. 58:9–14; Micah 7:8–11; Matt. 5:13–16.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Are you looking for your voice in the darkness?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, through every crack may Your light and love shine. Amen.’
Photo by Patrick Hauth on pxhere
