You are the children of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 14:1. Have you ever thought of yourself that way? Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. v. 2. Was He only talking about the Children of Israel then? I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:6. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” Acts 13:47. What was that quote referencing? Isaiah 49:6: he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.

I was watching the recorded Open Table Conference discussion on Hebrews 4 yesterday. One of the most impactful statements to me was when Kenneth Tanner said “I don’t know anyone not made in the image of God.” You are the children of the Lord your God….So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27.

One of the things I love about the series The Chosen, is that it brings to life the very issues of our hearts and minds then and now. Issues mankind has been wrestling with from the very beginning. The religious leaders of Jesus’ days on this Earth could not see beyond the legalism they encased their hearts in that left no room for compassion and mercy; no room to hear the Messiah they looked for but could not see. I can’t look down on them. I do the same thing. I look at appearances and forget You are the children of the Lord your God. Jesus didn’t see with veiled eyes. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5.

Who are we really? We are the children of the Lord our God made in His image and in need of His love, mercy, grace. One day we, too, will see with unveiled eyes. How can we see now? Trust Him who sees clearly. We stumble on paths littered with obstacles of our own making. He will make our paths straight not so we can look down on others but so we can serve in love and compassion. That’s a tall order! Jesus showed us how. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45.

Baby steps. You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16. Whose light? How? I am the light of the world. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness to show us the way to the Father. We won’t find Him through legalism or self righteousness. We find Him loving us. Who are we? The children of the Lord our God. His treasured possession. Wow. We can walk with Him now. We can learn from Him now. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light. Matthew 11:28-30. Rest for our souls. Found only in love that comes richly from the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit showing us how to love Them and ourselves and others. Can you imagine? Let the light of God’s love shine in you His child dearly loved.