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20250713 Exodus 34:27-35 "Those with Shining Faces: Walk as New Covenant People, Lighting Up the World!"
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fvc
Date
2025-08-28 05:05
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430
Exodus 34:27-35 "Those with Shining Faces: Walk as New Covenant People, Lighting Up the World!"
Sometimes when we meet certain people, we get the feeling that "this person is somehow different." Even though their appearance isn't particularly outstanding, being near them makes our hearts warm and gives us hope. It feels as if light is radiating from their faces.
There's a fascinating story in Exodus chapter 34 of the Bible. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after spending 40 days with God, light radiated from his face. "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD." (Exodus 34:29) What's remarkable is that Moses himself was completely unaware of this fact.
This light didn't come from Moses having special abilities, but simply from spending time with God. As the Scripture says, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5), walking with God who is light naturally caused that light to be reflected.
However, the light radiating from Moses' face gradually faded over time. This was the limitation of the Old Testament era. But we who live in the New Testament era are different. God promised, "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33) This is precisely the new covenant. The Holy Spirit dwells directly within us, giving us the power to live according to God's will.
The apostle Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) We have already become new creations.
So how can we live as light? Especially in Japan, genuine life testimonies create greater impact than religious talk. Therefore, we need to share the gospel through our lives rather than just words. In our homes, we serve our families with Christ's love; in our workplaces, we influence our colleagues positively through honesty and diligence; and to our neighbors, we approach with kindness and consideration.
We don't need to do grand things to illuminate the world. It's about taking time for meditation and prayer each morning, even briefly; acting honestly in small matters; extending a helping hand to neighbors in need; and living each day with a grateful heart. These small practices come together to make each of us a light, and that light illuminates our homes, our churches, and ultimately our entire communities.
Some people might think, "I'm just an ordinary person with nothing special to offer." But Scripture clearly states: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14) The reason we are light isn't because we ourselves are excellent, but because God, who is light, dwells within us. Like Moses, even though we ourselves may not realize it, people around us recognize that light within us.
Where there is light, darkness retreats. Just your existence on this earth can cause the darkness of this world to retreat. From today, live as people of the new covenant, as light that illuminates the world. The light radiating from your faces will warmly illuminate this world.
Sometimes when we meet certain people, we get the feeling that "this person is somehow different." Even though their appearance isn't particularly outstanding, being near them makes our hearts warm and gives us hope. It feels as if light is radiating from their faces.
There's a fascinating story in Exodus chapter 34 of the Bible. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after spending 40 days with God, light radiated from his face. "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD." (Exodus 34:29) What's remarkable is that Moses himself was completely unaware of this fact.
This light didn't come from Moses having special abilities, but simply from spending time with God. As the Scripture says, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5), walking with God who is light naturally caused that light to be reflected.
However, the light radiating from Moses' face gradually faded over time. This was the limitation of the Old Testament era. But we who live in the New Testament era are different. God promised, "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33) This is precisely the new covenant. The Holy Spirit dwells directly within us, giving us the power to live according to God's will.
The apostle Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) We have already become new creations.
So how can we live as light? Especially in Japan, genuine life testimonies create greater impact than religious talk. Therefore, we need to share the gospel through our lives rather than just words. In our homes, we serve our families with Christ's love; in our workplaces, we influence our colleagues positively through honesty and diligence; and to our neighbors, we approach with kindness and consideration.
We don't need to do grand things to illuminate the world. It's about taking time for meditation and prayer each morning, even briefly; acting honestly in small matters; extending a helping hand to neighbors in need; and living each day with a grateful heart. These small practices come together to make each of us a light, and that light illuminates our homes, our churches, and ultimately our entire communities.
Some people might think, "I'm just an ordinary person with nothing special to offer." But Scripture clearly states: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14) The reason we are light isn't because we ourselves are excellent, but because God, who is light, dwells within us. Like Moses, even though we ourselves may not realize it, people around us recognize that light within us.
Where there is light, darkness retreats. Just your existence on this earth can cause the darkness of this world to retreat. From today, live as people of the new covenant, as light that illuminates the world. The light radiating from your faces will warmly illuminate this world.
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