Missionaries of the Light

Not merely lights to the nation,
stationary, in the temple,
not merely examples of righteousness,
of piety, or rightness with God
in worship, in clean living
Emissaries of the Lord,
who died and rose for us,
who admonished us
to go out into the world,
being the light to the nations
out there in the darkness
actively bringing the light
to the last, the lost, the least,
the prisons, the homeless,
those seeking his grace
Go into the world
missionaries of the light
of the light of the world
the hope for all mankind
rising out of the darkness

January 12, 2008
based on the draft sermon, “Beacons of Light”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, January 12, 2008,
Matthew 28:16-20 and Isaiah 42:1-9,
as translated in The Message,
(see “Lighthouses”)
contrasting to the translation in the
New Revised Standard Version,
(see “A Light to the Nations”)