Arise and Shine
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Pastor Bimbo Odukoya; a woman who was blessed with a marriage/singles ministry unlike any I have ever seen before or since. I bought one of her books and asked her to sign it for me. On the fly-leaf, she wrote the first two words of this scripture. It was a simple and powerful message.
It interested me because when I thought about it, I realized that 'arise' is an active word - it's a command, but it's left to the person commanded to obey it. By inference then (and based on this verse of scripture), it may be said that if we don't arise, we can't shine. God has deposited so much inside each and every one of us - He encourages us and teaches us and inspires us, but the day will come when we have to use all of the gifts inside of us to make a difference in our family, our community and our world.
A minister once said that Christians should stop praying 'too' much (i.e. praying when God has expressly spoken) and take action. Confronted by the Red Sea, Moses did not know what to do. He prayed and God said "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea..." Exodus 14: 15-16. Then Moses stretched out his staff and the Red Sea parted. If he had kept praying and not moved his staff after God had clearly told him to move forward, I wonder... what would have happened?
Onyih Odunze