"Let the Lower Lights be Burning"

Read: Matthew 5:14-16

Many years ago, I read a devotion written by Joni Tada that featured the lyrics to that beautiful old song. She said that when she was growing up, her family would camp. They would sing it on the beach as it was getting dark. Her father would remind the family about the importance of shining for Jesus. Though Jesus the Lighthouse shone, they needed to shine the lower lights so that those near could see the dangerous rocks and not be dashed upon them.

The song was written by Philip P. Bliss, and here is the first verse and chorus:

Brightly beams our Father's mercy

From His lighthouse evermore

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore

Let the lower lights be burning

Send a gleam across the wave

Some poor, fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

What a privilege we have. To point people back to the only Lighthouse or show others how to find Him for the first time.

This week, I heard the testimony of a Jewish woman and how some teachers with whom she worked shone the lower lights into her life. Her name is Cara Shine. Sadly, when she was growing up, she experienced cruel words and mocking because she was Jewish. On the bus, a boy grabbed her hair and held it up. He said they were all safe because he didn't see any devil horns underneath her hair. Oh, those wounds that people often carry. They're there even when no one can see them. Fast forward many years. Cara was teaching school. Happily, she worked with some Christian teachers who showed her every-day love and friendship. Something that she had longed to have him her life. I won't give the complete story here, but a bit of a teaser to see how God

allowed the Christian teachers to shine those lower lights at just the right time. Her story includes as a few of its elements, little coated candy pieces and a panic attack. The teaser. One of the teachers had a flip calendar that she kept on her desk. Each day, there was a scripture that could be read. What the teacher didn't know was that Cara would sneak into her room when no one was present and read those scriptures. The light was getting into her heart even when the owner of that little flip calendar wasn't even aware of it. I'll say this much more. Cara Shine came to know the Savior, and those who loved her and prayed with her are quick to say that it was the Holy Spirit Who did the work. They simply displayed those lower lights, Matthew 5:14-16. The complete story is in Cara's book, "the Hallway Miracle."

What about us? Are we taking the challenge and allowing our lower lights

to shine? The story behind the song is true. There really was a shipwreck that

occurred near the Cleveland Harbor on a very stormy night because the lower lights were all out. The lighthouse was visible, but the ship had no way to see the rocks. Lives were lost because of that. When Philip Bliss heard that story, God gave him the words and music to that song. What a picture of the danger that surrounds each of us. .

I loved the testimony of Cara Shine because I was reminded once again that it is often the things that we call simple that the Holy Spirit uses so wonderfully to change a life. It makes me smile when I think of Cara Shine sneaking into her friend's classroom to read that flip calendar. Who knew what a great work God was doing!

Lord, Please help us to keep shining our lower lights, and thank You for all the times You have protected us when someone else was faithful to shine for You. As always, the Glory and honor belongs only to You,

Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 5:14-16.