✝ Daily Encouragement (9/8/23) "Keep The Lower Lights Burning"

Published: Fri, 09/08/23

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Friday, September 8, 2023

The Tibbett's Point Lighthouse on Lake Ontario

Click on photo to enlarge

"Keep The Lower Lights Burning"

Message summary: Today the Almighty God of the universe has called us to let our light shine. Let’s do our part to see that the “lower lights” burn brightly.

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“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy,
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Today we want to share one more nautically themed message prompted by our trip over Labor Day weekend to the Thousand Islands region along the Saint Lawrence River.

Lighthouses are one of our favorite sights to see and explore when we’re near the ocean or other large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. So, after returning from a boat tour of the Thousand Islands, we headed out to a the point where Lake Ontario empties into the Saint Lawrence River to view the Tibbett's Point lighthouse constructed in 1854 (100 years before I was born) and still actively guiding ships into the river channel.

Today let’s take a look at an old hymn that makes the analogy of divine mercy as “bright beams” from our Father’s lighthouse which shines evermore.

The most famous nautical navigation light is of course the lighthouse but there are other nautical navigation lights. Today we want to consider the lower lights.

Phillip P. Bliss, born in Pennsylvania, was a nineteenth century song writer associated with D.L. Moody. He often received the inspiration for a hymn, while listening to a message during a church service. Once an idea struck his alert mind, he worked rapidly usually completing both the text and the music in one sitting.

One day, while traveling with Dwight L. Moody as the musician for an evangelistic campaign, Bliss was impressed by an illustration used by Mr. Moody for a message. Moody often told this moving true story of a violent storm on Lake Erie:

On a dark, stormy evening, when the waves rolled like mountains and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbor.

“Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the Captain, seeing only light from the lighthouse. “Quite sure,” replied the pilot.

“Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir!”

“Can you make the harbor?” “We must, or perish, sir.”

With a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel, but alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and, with a crash upon the rock, the boat was slivered and many a life lost in a watery grave.

“Brethren,” concluded Mr. Moody, “the Master will take care of the great lighthouse. Let us keep the lower lights burning.”

Based on this story Bliss wrote the hymn, "Let The Lower Lights be Burning".

Nautically speaking, the “lower lights” are lights apart from the lighthouse that illumine the water line. They’re surface navigational aids as well as the various lights from windows, street lamps, and businesses that enable vessels to come into the harbor at night, through a narrow channel of the harbor’s mouth.

Spiritually speaking the “lower lights” are lights from individual followers of Christ who allow the light of Christ to shine in their lives by their attitudes, words and deeds. When we, as believers, allow the life-changing message of Christ to wane in our lives or behave in a manner that does not glorify Him our flame flickers. If it goes completely unchecked our light can burn out. As God’s children, we don’t want to bring disgrace or further the darkness but rather honor the One "who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light".

Today the Almighty God of the universe has called us to let our light shine. Let’s do our part to see that the “lower lights” burn brightly providing a lighted path for “some poor, struggling, fainting seaman, [that] we may rescue, we may save”!

Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor struggling, fainting seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13 )

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father God, we are a chosen generation, a people set apart to show forth the praises of Christ who has called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Since You have illumined our darkness we will not conceal it, but rather shine forth wherever we are; in the marketplace, in our homes, in the business place, in the neighborhood, in the voting booth, in church and wherever we have opportunity to bring forth light in this world of darkness. We can make a difference and want to do so. We want to witness faithfully of the light of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Let the Lower Lights Be Burning" Watch video on YouTube

On our boat tour we passed the Rock Island Lighthouse along the Saint Lawrence River

Click on photo to enlarge

On the way back we got off the interstate for awhile south of Syracuse to visit a nature preserve and then ride the back roads. We passed this barn with a message. Do you recognize the hymn?

Weber couple at Burrville Falls near Watertown NY

Burrville Falls near Watertown, New York. Ester took this photo before we headed to Hannah and Antonio's wedding reception.
Click on photo to enlarge

Finally today:

Yesterday we visited several companies in Lebanon County and joined some friends for breakfast at the Railroad Diner in Richland, PA. Afterwards we stopped at Hornings Market in Myerstown, a discount grocery store. They had a good price on coffee but, to their credit, practiced truth in advertising!

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