Devotion: Let Your Light Shine
Please take a few moments to read 2 Corinthians 4:1-2; 5-15
As a Minister of Word and Sacrament, I am tasked with many pastoral duties, including (but certainly not limited to) preaching, presiding at funerals and weddings, and baptizing. Out of all the things I am called to do, baptisms have always been my favorite. There is a feeling of sacredness that comes with calling a child by name and proclaiming that they are claimed as God’s own as they are washed in the waters of the font. It is a time when I can truly feel the Holy Spirit moving amongst us, and I pray that I am able to continue recognizing the Spirit’s movement as my years in ministry progress.
As I was finishing Seminary, I thought a lot about what it would be like to take on the various pastoral duties, and I thought most about my first baptism. I pictured an adorable baby being held by loving parents and looked down on by faithful sponsors as the water fell over their head. A beautiful image, right? Well, it turns out that I couldn’t have been further from reality. My first baptism ended up being a 74 year old man; rough around the edges, but faithful nonetheless.
Almost 15 years later, I am still thankful that this is the way things turned out. To this day, that baptism was my favorite of all time (I know Pastors aren’t supposed to have favorites, but sometimes…we do). After his baptism, I handed him a candle lit from the Christ candle and recited words from Matthew’s Gospel; “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) As these words were spoken, I saw a man standing before me and his faith community who had always been a good man, but who now had a renewed spirit that you could see within him; he stood a little taller, he smiled a little bigger, and tears ran down his face.
Paul reminds us in his second letter to the Corinthians of the importance of not only hearing these words, but living these words. “Let your light shine” is a reminder of who we are as Children of God, but it is also our calling; we are called to allow the Spirit to move in our lives in ways that form everything we do. Truly, everything we say and do is for the glory of God, as Paul wrote, “for what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)
In baptism, your identity as a Child of God is sealed. Whether you were baptized when you were 7 months old or 74 years old and beyond, the Spirit works the same. The light of God was given to you in the waters of baptism, and it continues to shine long after that baptismal candle is blown out. May your light shine in the world so that all may know the love of our God, who calls us his own.
God of Light, move your Spirit in us, that we might continue to proclaim you in all that we do. Help us to always recognize the movement of your Spirit, that we might be renewed in the promises given to us in Baptism. When our preconceived ideas become stumbling blocks to our faith, remind us once again that we are your servants, and that all we do is for your glory and not our own. Amen.
Written by Pastor Sarah Ruch
Pastor Sarah serves as Sheridan’s Associate Pastor of Local Outreach and Missions. She began her ministry at Sheridan in August of 2022 as Transitional Pastor until October 2022, when she was called as Associate Pastor.
Pastor Sarah lives in Lincoln with her husband Miles, and children; Hannah, Caleb and Aaron