On a mild autumn evening when the sky was dark and the moon was full, thousands of people in my hometown gathered along the banks of the river to light sky lanterns. They released them into the darkness, and watched as the lights rose to join the moon in a dazzling display that turned the night sky into a sparkling work of art.

When I saw pictures of the event, I was disappointed that I was out of town and had missed it. But a few days later I realised that what had happened in my hometown could be seen as a symbol of the conference I was attending at the time. More than 1,000 people from 100 cities around the world had gathered there to plan a ‘work of art’—how to light up the darkness of their own cities by planting churches and reaching thousands of people with the gospel of Christ, the Light of the world.

The prophet Daniel wrote about a time when those who turn others to the Lord will shine like stars forever (Dan. 12:3). We can all join in that great event. When we shine the light of Christ in dark places where we live and work, He is using us as lights that will never go out.

Author

Julie Ackerman Link

Topics

Our Daily Bread