Revd Jeannette McHugh
10th September 2006 Gospel Service
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 150; 1 John 1:1-7; John 1:1-14
Today we have heard great words from the Bible.
It would do us well to hear them again.
From the prophet Isaiah,
written nearly 3000 years ago…
O descendants of Jacob,
that's us
come,
let us walk
in the light of the Lord.
From the letter of John
written nearly 2000 years ago:
This is the message we have heard
from him and proclaim to you,
that God is light,
and in him
there is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship
with him while we are walking in
darkness,
we lie and do not do what is true;
but if we walk in the light
as he himself is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin.
And from our gospel:
The law indeed was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
It is God the only Son,
who is close to the Father's heart,
who has made him known.
These words give life to us.
Walk in the light
which is the light of God
we will not be alone
because we will be with God
and in fellowship with others.
We will not be racked with guilt
or envy or feelings of inadequacy
or, at least, we shouldn't be,
because we bear the light of God in us,
we can confess our sins, and
be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
So we become… we really are…
the light of God in the world.
God needs us
to be his light in the world
as the night needs the stars to show
travellers the way to go.
So to remind ourselves of who we are,
let us sing again the first verse
of our opening hymn and we'll do
some actions:
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
What does it tell us?
Our light is little
But
We are gonna let it shine
When?
Now
Always
Every day every night
Not just today, not just on Sundays
But always
Everyday… Always…
What does the second verse tell us to do?
Let's sing it again with actions:
Everywhere I go
I'm gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go
I'm gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere we go……
Not just in church
Not when we are in good company
But everywhere we go
Every day
Every night
Now and always
Now you might be thinking
Well, ok, but how do I do this?
How do I know if my light is really shining?
And is it bright enough?
Do I have to polish it up a bit?
Or get a different one?
Do I need to be a spotlight
rather than a torch or a candle?
The bible and our songs today
tell us the answer and
3 real examples for life today:
Christian meditation… Amnesty International… Toogong church…
We don't have to ask ourselves those questions.
We just have to be the light
which is the light of God
and when we are
then if we live
Consciously
Consistently
Courageously
Then we will be the light of God
in the world and we will bring
peace to the world.
and reconciliation and hope.
A high claim?
Not so. Why not so?
Because what we bring
is not our own light
is not our own cleverness
is not our own sensitivity
is not our own truth
No it is not us, it is the light
and grace and truth of God
given to us by God himself
in the person of Jesus
So to remind us of this great truth
which sets us free from fretting and
fear and worry
let us sing again the third verse of our hymn with actions:
Jesus gave it to me
I'm gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me
I'm gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
So don't worry about the outcome
Don't worry about how shiny you are
Just let the light shine
Just be the light of God in the world
Just shine and keep walking in the light of God.
And if we do we will be doing
what we have been told to do since
the beginning of our faith story.
It is our high calling
to make our world a better place,
full of grace and truth
and closer to the heart of God.
Amen