Our life is divinely appointed to intersect with countless others, often without us even being aware. And this means we cannot abdicate our duty to offer our gifts and shine our light even when we don’t see the full impact of our efforts. We keep our lamps burning even through the night – trusting God is using our faithfulness to bless others.
To be sure, it’s easier to keep going when we clearly see the fruit of our efforts. But sometimes we’re the watchmen keeping guard at night. And our job is no less important just because everyone else is asleep. In fact, it might even be more important because this is when we’re most vulnerable.
To keep our lamps burning is to keep showing up and doing the work God has given us to do. And who knows who might benefit from our night watch – perhaps protecting others from the influences of evil or giving them a glimmer of hope when they felt like giving up. We might never know, and this is okay, as we were not doing it for the recognition. God has appointed us to stand watch and we simply do our part to keep our lamps burning.
Of course, we’re human and we naturally grow weary ourselves. Without giving up our post, it’s still good to find regular time to refresh our own souls. And this is far from being selfish, as it allows us to be renewed and resume our watch. It’s much easier to fall asleep on duty or otherwise get distracted when we’re depleted. And, in this sense, resting is not letting our lamp go out, but rather getting some extra oil to keep it burning bright.
In the end, God has appointed you as a watchman to serve the lives of many others. Keep your lamp burning, especially during these dark days.
Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash
