Growth in the Light

A friend recently told me something that she’d noticed about seeds.  Seeds are buried in the dark and they begin to germinate in that hidden, quiet place.  When they finally do burst through the soil, they begin their journey bent over.  They continue to grow that way for a while before they begin to unfurl.  Eventually, they bloom and produce fruit.  From the moment they are planted until they die, they are stretching toward the light in a process of continual growth.

She reminded me of a few things that I want to share with you.  Maybe they will encourage you like they encouraged me.

1.      In the dark, hidden, quiet places when it looks like all hope is lost, there is growth.

2.     In the lowly place where we feel bent and nearly broken, there is growth.

3.     As we stretch and reach new heights, there is growth.

4.     As we bloom and produce fruit, there is growth.

5.     As long as we are stretching toward the light, there is growth.

Sweet friend, growth looks different in each part of the process but each phase spent moving toward the light is one of growth because the Light draws us closer and has the power to transform us.

I think the same can be said about our journey with Jesus.  Scripture has much to say about Jesus, the Light of the world.

John 1:1-15 tells us, “In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He existed in the beginning with God.  God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.  The Word gave life to everything that was created,  and his life brought light to everyone.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.  God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.   They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.  John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

John 8:12 says, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Sweet friend, the truth of this is simple.  Let’s keep our eyes, minds, and hearts turned toward the Light.  Let’s fix our attention there and let God’s loving kindness draw us nearer and nearer.  Let’s bring all of who we are into the Light and let’s let the Light transform us as we grow.

Remember, orient towards the Light because…

1.     In the dark, hidden, quiet places when it looks like all hope is lost, there is growth because the Light has overcome darkness.

2.     In the lowly place where we feel bent and nearly broken, there is growth because the Light transforms us.

3.     As we stretch and reach new heights, there is growth because the Light draws us.

4.     As we bloom and produce fruit, there is growth because the Light gives life.

5.     As long as we are stretching toward the light, there is growth because of the Light.