Church Camp Weekend Devotion

With two weeks of sun forecast in Lancing this blog is to help you take 10-20 minutes in the sun to reflect on the God who put it there.  Like everything in creation God made the sun to teach us about himself and his Son Jesus.  So if you’re at camp (and were woken at 5am by the sun) or if you’re back in Lancing (and glad you’re not camping!) find a place where you can feel the sun. 
        
What Bible verses can you think of that mention the sun? Here are some I thought of.  I suggest you read each section and then pause to reflect, to have your own thoughts, to pray, and to praise God.

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God…he has pitched a tent for the sun.”  Ps 19:1-3.  
One thing the sun is there to do is make us simply stop and wonder – how great God must be, how glorious. Notice the light reflected off the morning dew drops, see the light filtering through a flower, see how sunlight brightens everything.  Feel the intensity that you can’t look directly at, even though sunlight has travelled 93 million miles to get to us!  Imagine what it’s like at the surface of the sun (or the centre) - you can’t! 
So with God’s glory.  It’s dazzling, beautiful and dangerous and compared to which every other great thing in this world is faint and dim. This is why even the angels shield their eyes.  It’s why God is worthy of all our worship and time, attention and awe.

2. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good.”  Matthew 5:45
Look around at all the plants blooming because of the sun.  Feel your body relaxing as you absorb the sun and produce vitamin D.  Eat a sun ripened strawberry!  It’s because God causes his sun to rise.  These are all his gifts.   And it’s what we call “common grace” because the sun shines on everyone.  Though “saving grace” is only for Christians (though offered to all), “common grace” is for everyone – whoever, whatever, whether someone turns to him or not.  People can’t escape God’s goodness and love shining down.  
 
3. “The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” Malachi 4:2
Night time is often when we feel alone, troubled, and maybe fearful.  And then morning comes and so much lifts.  Malachi (in 400BC) predicted that Jesus coming would be like the morning for our dark world.  He is “the sun of righteousness” lifting us out of fear and trouble and shining God’s light in.  People need that!  Most people (then and now) are pretty unclear on who God is, what life is really about, where to find love, protection, forgiveness, and help, what lies beyond death, whether anything at all is right and wrong, and even what it means to be human.  They are stumbling through life in the dark, spiritually. 
But Jesus came into the world as light.  And Jesus through the Bible shines out just what God is like, shows us the way to heaven, brings healing from sin, and shines out righteousness like a bright sun in the darkness of human history, so we can see how to live and flourish.  So just as you can see your way across the field and to enjoy the day, thank God for the light Jesus brings to your day.  Ask Jesus to shine on you a little more this weekend. 

4. “The Lord make his face to shine upon you…” Numbers 6:25
In the Old Testament in the book of Numbers the people had grumbled and rebelled and deserved only God’s frown and face turned away from them.  But because of the sacrifices, the Priests could declare this blessing.  We too deserve God’s frown and judgement.  But because of the sacrifice of Jesus we too get this blessing.  Jesus on the cross had the sky turn dark and God turn his face away from him.  Jesus took the darkness so we get God’s light! 
So as you feel the warmth on your face, the brightness around you, know that God’s face shines down on you.   He’s beaming.  You are his daughter or son.  Like a proud dad he’s shining love towards you.  Of course feelings come and go as does the weather.  But for Christians this is always true.   So take some time just to enjoy how God feels towards you.  

5. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”  Matt 13.43
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says Christians are supposed to be “the light of the world” – to shine out as different and special and to have a real impact on others around us.  Sometimes we do.  But in Matthew 12.20 it says often Christians are more like “smouldering wicks.”  We’re feeble in faith, have little light to offer others, we’re barely surviving (like a little candle that’s nearly out) let alone brightly influencing others. 
If you feel that today here’s the huge encouragement - one day, Jesus promises, we will “shine like the sun.”  Our righteousness, goodness, love, joy, and glory will be such that if someone could see us like that now, they would be tempted to worship…or be quite blinded.  That’s your future.  Bask in it!

Some other verses for further reflection: Psalm 84:11, Ecclesiastes 1:9, Ezekiel 8:16, Revelation 22:5