Arise, Shine
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Zion, arise and shine!
To arise is to be restored; it is to come out of the darkness and be free of captivity. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Therefore, as the light and glory of the Lord comes, captivity and oppression is vapourized.
We are also to live with a conviction to shine. To shine isn’t to strive for recognition or initiate things outside of God, and the radiance that we bring doesn’t depend on our effort; in the Kingdom of God, there is no need to generate your own light. Rather, we live as reflections of His light; our mission is to follow Him and point towards Him. Only through the Spirit of the Lord being upon us can we see transformation in our city and among our people even as chaos and darkness surrounds us. We want to be a community that builds according to the Kingdom blueprint.
Our church and community is meant to be like the city on a hill described in Matthew 5, one that turns on the lights both for themselves and others. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, it is seen without needing to try to be seen; in the same way, to shine is not to create performance or attention, but rather to draw those outside of the light towards it. When the presence and power of God is among us and there is deeper relationship, honour and worship in the family, the world will have no choice but to take note of the growing radiance of the Kingdom.
Zion Family, remember who you are! Know how great God’s affection for our house is. Our greatest worship, encounters and promises are ahead of us; even in the midst of darkness in the world, the Kingdom always increases. And, as we continue to advance forwards, may we remember that the focus is always His agenda and His presence, not our own productions or programs. Amen!