Our home for 20 years in Toowoomba, Australia, was at the end of a cul-de-sac. Behind our home was a large park with a pathway that led to a street higher up on the outskirts of the city. This pathway was a favourite for many early morning walks. One morning, much earlier than usual, (4am to be exact) I began walking up this pathway. While it was very dark, it was still, with a clear, star-filled sky, and street lights sparkled in little dots. Looking directly behind I could see the brighter lights of the city centre.

Colin Shae Path in OZ 600 Sq 

Half way up this pathway, I felt drawn to a light shining brightly from the top of the hill directly ahead of me. Somehow, I felt captivated by this light. My first thought was that it was a street light. As I got closer, however, I was stunned with the realisation that this bright light was actually a planet, the planet Venus, otherwise known as the Morning Star.

I remembered Jesus referred Himself as The Morning Star. “…I am the bright Morning Star” from Revelation 22:16.

Peter wrote of “the dawning of a new day when the Morning Star rises in your hearts” from 2 Peter 1:19.

Then it hit me. As I looked back, I realised I was standing directly between this bright light coming from the Morning Star and our city centre. I knew I was being given a graphic picture of how Jesus, the Morning Star, relied on myself and the rest of His people in the city to be so intimate with Himself that His light and love would flow through us into the city.

At that moment I was fully focused on the Morning Star, with the darkness all around me. But soon the sun would rise, the city would regain my attention, and the Morning Star would fade out of sight.

Nevertheless, I had had a precious encounter that would stand me in good stead in the days to come as I made room for the Morning Star to rise in my heart, and together with others, be a conduit for God’s light and love to flood our city for His glory.

Here are some great scriptures for further encouragement:

Proverbs 4:18. “But the lovers of God walk on the highway of light and their way shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day. But the wicked walk in thick darkness, like those who travel in fog, and yet don’t have a clue why they keep stumbling!”

Isaiah 60:1-2. “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” 

Matthew 5:14. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.”

2 Corinthians4:3-6. “For God, who said, ‘Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,’ is the one who has cascaded his light into us—the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ. We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.”

John8:12. “Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never (never) walk in (be pushed back by) darkness.”.

Colin Shaw sq128 

God Bless. Colin