Our family has ventured into the super scary world of homeschooling this year with my 4 year old. Jesse is in Kindergarten currently, learning his letters, numbers, all that fun jazz and we have some awesome curriculum (which I’m sure you’ll hear more about as we go along- My Father’s World!) that teaches each letter with it’s sound, a particular item that starts with that letter/sound, and various Bible teachings, verses, and little sing-alongs that help with retention.
I love how each week we learn something new about the world and how God ties the big picture together. It’s been a great experience so far. But I digress…

Several weeks ago now we learned about the letter M. M for moon, mmm mmm, mmm. Say it together with me-               just kidding. I’m in total mom-teacher- mode right now.

ANYhoo, the scriptural teaching that went along with our moon week had to do with being a light to others. Jesse learned “I am the light of the world.” It taught how the moon is only a big, inert rock and cannot produce any light of it’s own. It reflects ONLY the sun’s rays. What we see, so far away here on earth, the light that it gives us by night, is simply a mirroring of the sun.

The lessons then went on to reinforce how we are the light of the world. It quoted Matthew 5: 14, 16 “YOU are the light of the world…. let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Incidentally, for a quick and fun way to memorize this, check out this YouTube page– my kids had the entire verse learned by heart in 3 songs!)

With the supermoon in the news these last days, I’ve been struck at the brightness and beauty of the nightscapes these last few nights. But the moon, no matter how brightly it gleams or close in image to the sun it looks- still cannot BE anything more than just a mirror of the original source.  Without the sun, the moon is just a hunk of rock hanging out in the middle of the cosmos. Doing no one any good.

It struck me as I was teaching all of this, how simple but true it is. Such an elementary lesson but it stuck with me. Just as the moon is, in it of itself, totally unable to produce anything good (i.e.light) or do what the Creator intended it to do (i.e. reflect light) without the MASTER SOURCE OF LIGHT giving it what it needs- so also are we as humans (and Christians!) just as completely handicapped of doing anything of worth or fulfill our God-given purposes without being totally plugged into God. HE is our master source of light- He is the ONLY thing that is good and perfect that we can reflect from.

But all we can do is reflect… it is a humbling yet powerful position all at the same time. Our attitude can only be one of looking towards the Light in order to best reflect what it shows. We cannot go off on our own, expecting our behavior, works, or deeds to be light on their own. It just doesn’t work that way. We are nothing on our own, and have nothing within us that is capable of shining. We are just a chunk of rock by ourselves.

Conversely, the sheer power of the Source that we can, in theory, reflect- is nothing short of spectacular. The energy of Himself available to us to use for God’s glory can move mountains and shine more brightly than anything this world has to offer.

But that depends on our reflecting ability with the Master Source of Light.

Our ability to reflect Him depends on our position towards Him, and the cleanliness of the reflecting surface. Not unlike a dusty or smudgy mirror, so also our lives and walk are affected by the dirt and smudges of the world and our behavior. Sin and disobedience mare our mirrors. But it remains worth continuing to polish our lives so that our own mirrors would continue to reflect God. The cleaner the glass, the brighter the reflection.

How clean is your mirror dear one?

And just as the moon must be in line and in the right position to reflect the sun (in order for us to see it… I realize the example is limited here but just go with me!) so also must we position ourselves with our eyes on Christ. We have to be in line with Him to reflect Him; all sides of us angled towards Him and available for His light to shine on. Every. Single. Part.

Ever heard of the dark side of the moon? Or perhaps the dark side of your soul…?

What parts of your ‘moon’ are not in line with Christ? The dark sides are just that, totally unable to reflect light.

A light (of any kind) is worthless when dark, dusty, smudged, or dim.

So tonight dear ones, go outside and give that big ‘ol rock a good looking-at. It is truly spectacular right now! How crazy to think that it’s source of light is even more so! Just like our own Source of Light.

Take your cue from the moon as you gaze at it and meditate on how well your own image reflects our Savior’s light. What parts of your soul need polishing? What parts of your soul need to be realigned to Christ’s light?

Thank you for taking the time to read my heart today. Please comment below with thoughts and ruminations of where your walk is today. Please share and follow if this blesses you!