Sabbath: Shining as Lights in the Night
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 24th of January 2026
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Philippians 2:12-30; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:13,21; Luke 7:2.
Memory Text:
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15, NKJV).
God told the Hebrews to obey because that obedience “is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’ ” (Deuteronomy 4:6, NKJV).
Centuries later Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12, NKJV). He has also said, “ ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden’ ” (Matthew 5:14, NKJV). How can we be that light? Only through a close connection with Jesus, “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9, NIV). As Philippians 2:1-30 says, God “has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV).
The light and power of heaven is available to all of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus. But too often either we expect God to do it all or our own ideas and plans get in the way. That’s why Paul’s words to the Philippians are so relevant today.
One of the major changes I have seen in my lifetime is the switch from incandescent to LED lighting. LED lighting is cheaper, and more efficient by far. Most of us have switched from incandescent lights to LEDs in our houses, and I think most new cars also use LEDs. I particularly like LED head-band torches when I am camping. They are bright and leave both hands free.
One interesting thing about LED lights is that they can be switched on and off so fast they are used to transmit data. In fact, the world’s high-speed communication is based on LED lasers shining their lights down ultra-thin optical fibres. A few years ago they replaced the copper phone wires to our house with fibre and a little LED laser in a box. Our communication is much more reliable now.
I have seen a proposal and demonstration in a TED talk, where they demonstrated LED car lights communicating between vehicles intelligently, avoiding collisions and solving traffic flow problems. It would make cars truly driverless. That is not like the current so-called driverless cars that use passive detectors to locate other vehicles.
I have often thought about the parables Jesus used about candles and lights, 2000 years ago, and have imagined what Jesus would have implied if he had LEDs in mind.
Jesus said:
Just think of the implications of LED lights that not only shine but communicate with one another collaboratively. Could that be a model for a Christian community powered by Christ-centred love?