Sun-Like Saints

     The song of Deborah and Barak is full of praise but closes with a prayer.  In this hymn the singers glorify God, honor the chief instruments of His work, challenge the slackers, and exult over the defeated foe.  As they close their anthem the choir cries out, “Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD!  But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.”

     This is a worthy petition to desire for ourselves.  Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to have this petition worked out by God in the experience of every one of us? The first thought that comes to mind is that the sun is very faithful.  If “the greatest ability is dependability,” the sun ranks as a paragon of ability.  It shines on every day and does not sleep even when the world turns its face away.  So ought we to be dependable in our Christian faith.  Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, is the great example of faithfulness.

     Also, the sun is very irresistible.  It is a foolish person who thinks he can inhibit or impede the sun from shining.  So as Christians our light needs to have that irresistible quality to it that only the Holy Spirit can give.

     The sun is beneficial as well.  Those who come under the light of the sun receive that which will enable them to grow and to progress.  Our Christianity must be of the variety that those to whom we minister, intentionally or unintentionally, all benefit from the exposure.

     The sun is also very warm.  There is no lukewarmness there.  Christ speaks expressly to the Laodicean church about His dissatisfaction with half-hearted, self-satisfied Christianity.  A Christianity that is tepid and apathetic brings no comfort to the cold soul.  We want our faith in Christ to bring warmth to those around us.

     Finally, the sun is very bright; that is, it is a great dispeller of darkness.  It would be a cause for great rejoicing if our influence was so pervasive that it was the means of rolling back the encroaching darkness about us.  May God answer in our lives the prayer of Deborah and Barak.  May we be Sun-light Saints who bring warmth and light to the benefit of those around us.