Shining like the sun
If you love Jerusalem,
celebrate and shout!
If you were in sorrow
because of the city,
you can now be glad. ~ Isaiah 66:10 (CEV)
But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. ~ Matthew 13:43a (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God promises a great future for the active citizens of his kingdom.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the hope that you have given us through Christ Jesus. Thank you for initiating the Kingdom of God. I count myself as a citizen of that kingdom because I am trusting in what Christ has done and is doing. But I'm not sure that I'm yet to the point where I'm shining like the sun. Please do what it takes in my life to get me to that point. I'm eager to become a full participant in the celebration. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
