“The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Matt. 4:16. “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79. Blessed are those who, in the darkness of these times, see a great light and receive the Dayspring [Sunrise] from on high into their hearts—a Sun that will never be extinguished, but will shine brighter and brighter. There are many people, who regularly go to meetings and hear God’s Word, but they have not seen a great light, and there is no sunrise in their hearts. This is also the case with many who preach God’s Word. A person can hear about righteousness and speak about righteousness for years on end but never see the exceedingly great glory of doing righteousness in great and small things. He can hear about love and speak about love without ever seeing the exceedingly great glory of offering himself for the others. This or that Word of God can become light and blessed for a person when a man of God holds forth its true glory, but this person is not in a state so that God Himself can show His tender mercy on him and ignite this eternal, heavenly light in his own heart. In his daily life he has so many plans and interests, and he is so satisfied with himself in his worship of God. All his own deeds, thoughts, words, and plans have not become total darkness to him so that, with all of his heart, he just has to be set free from himself and his own ways. God can only bless and ignite His light according to His precise laws. He does not mix His light with our “light,” but He ignites His light in our darkness. God’s co-workers can proclaim God’s Word with power and clarity, but the light is only kindled by God Himself, through the Holy Spirit, in those hearts that are prepared to receive it. Some of them rejoice and keep their joy. The clear light of God they have received remains in them as a glorious light and a transforming power. It is possible for a few years to pass before someone else who has heard the same words receives this glory into himself, but most people never receive it. However, God works through His Spirit and through His co-workers to bring each individual into poorness of spirit, so that He can enrich him. He does not mix His riches with our “riches.” Most people don’t even know what God’s glory really is. They pray for gifts and pray to be blessed, thinking they will receive something with which they can really enjoy themselves emotionally. However, the true glory consists of God’s living Word that becomes flesh in us, so that all those who are together with us can feel and handle the glory. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us . . . .” 1 John 1:1-2. The same life and glory that was with the Father was revealed to the disciples by Jesus’ life. It was this life that the apostles proclaimed. They had not only seen this glory in Jesus’ life, but they had also partaken of it personally. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9. Here we can see the living message, which Paul had and which he proclaimed on the basis of his own life. This was exactly the same life, the same light, and the same glory that was in the Father and the Son, that had entered Paul’s life in such great measure. The Sun had truly risen in his life, and by his ministry the Sun has risen in many people’s hearts. All of us who have received life and light within us are a royal priesthood, and our main task is to proclaim the virtues of Him who called us from darkness to His marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9.Aksel J. Smith