Turning Towards the Light: Embracing Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

Standing amidst a field of sunflowers, I am reminded of the profound lessons they offer us about life and spirituality. Sunflowers, with their innate ability to turn towards the sun, embody a natural inclination towards light and growth. This heliotropic behavior is a beautiful metaphor for how we are invited to live our lives—constantly turning towards the light of God. In the Bible, God is often depicted as light, a source of life and truth that dispels darkness. Just as sunflowers thrive when they face the sun, we too flourish when we orient our lives towards God.

The concept of turning towards the light is not just a physical act but a spiritual discipline. It involves a conscious decision to turn away from the darkness of temptation, inadequacy, and resentment, and instead, embrace the light of Christ. This turning is akin to the biblical notion of conversion, which means to turn. Throughout our days, we are faced with choices that either draw us closer to the light or pull us into darkness. The challenge is to continually choose the light, even when our natural inclination might be to hide or retreat into darkness.

The story of a friend’s grandfather illustrates this struggle. He carried a silver dollar as a symbol of his need to always be right, a burden he eventually relinquished when he turned towards the light of Christ. This act of turning is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey. God, like a master composer, is present with us, guiding and encouraging us to keep moving towards the light.

In our daily lives, we are like the child playing chopsticks on a grand piano, with God improvising a beautiful symphony around our simple efforts. He whispers encouragement, urging us to keep going, to not give up, and to trust in His presence and guidance. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are invited to turn, turn, turn towards the light, knowing that the darkness cannot overcome it.

Key Takeaways:

- Sunflowers teach us about the importance of turning towards the light, a metaphor for orienting our lives towards God, who is the ultimate source of life and truth. Just as sunflowers thrive in the sun, we flourish when we seek God's presence. [02:37]

- The act of turning towards the light is a spiritual discipline that involves choosing to move away from darkness and towards the light of Christ. This is a daily decision that requires mindfulness and intentionality. [03:21]

- Conversion, in its essence, means to turn. Our lives are a series of choices that either draw us closer to God or pull us into darkness. The challenge is to continually choose the light, even when it is difficult. [03:49]

- The story of the silver dollar illustrates the burden of pride and the freedom found in turning towards the light. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey; God is with us, guiding and encouraging us. [06:16]

- Like a master composer, God is present in our lives, turning our simple efforts into a beautiful symphony. He whispers encouragement, urging us to keep going and to trust in His presence and guidance. [10:41]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Introduction to Paul Tournier
- [00:51] - Sunflowers and Light
- [01:31] - Heliotropic Nature of Sunflowers
- [02:37] - Invitation to Live in the Light
- [03:21] - Turning Towards the Light
- [04:04] - Shaker Hymn and Simplicity
- [05:13] - Preferring Darkness
- [06:16] - Story of the Silver Dollar
- [07:30] - Bringing Things into the Light
- [08:12] - God as the Composer
- [09:18] - Story of the Pianist and Child
- [10:41] - Encouragement to Keep Going
- [11:19] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 John 1:5 - "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all."

John 1:4-5 - "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the sunflower's heliotropic behavior as described in the sermon? How does this relate to our spiritual lives? [01:31]

2. According to the sermon, what does the act of turning towards the light symbolize in our daily lives? [03:21]

3. How does the story of the silver dollar illustrate the concept of turning towards the light? [06:16]

4. What role does God play in our lives according to the analogy of the composer and the conductor? [08:22]

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the metaphor of God as light in 1 John 1:5 and John 1:4-5 deepen our understanding of the sermon’s message about turning towards the light? [02:53]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that turning towards the light is a daily discipline? How might this discipline manifest in a believer's life? [03:21]

3. The sermon mentions the struggle between preferring darkness and stepping into the light. How does this struggle reflect the human condition as described in the Bible? [05:13]

4. How does the story of the pianist and the child playing chopsticks illustrate God's role in our spiritual journey? [09:18]

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt drawn to darkness, such as temptation or resentment. How did you respond, and what might you do differently to turn towards the light next time? [03:34]

2. The sermon discusses the importance of turning away from pride, as illustrated by the story of the silver dollar. Is there a "silver dollar" in your life that you need to let go of? [06:16]

3. Consider the analogy of God as a composer in your life. How can you become more attuned to His guidance and encouragement in your daily activities? [08:22]

4. The sermon encourages us to bring things into the light. Is there something in your life that you have been keeping in the dark? What steps can you take to bring it into the light? [07:30]

5. How can you practice the discipline of turning towards the light in your thoughts and actions this week? Identify one specific area where you can make a conscious effort to choose the light. [03:21]

6. The sermon mentions the importance of simplicity and humility. How can you incorporate these values into your life, especially in your interactions with others? [04:31]

7. Reflect on the encouragement to "keep going" despite challenges. What is one area of your life where you need to persevere, and how can you seek God's strength to continue? [10:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Turning Towards the Light of God
Sunflowers, with their heliotropic nature, serve as a profound metaphor for our spiritual journey. Just as these flowers instinctively turn towards the sun, we are invited to orient our lives towards God, who is the ultimate source of life and truth. This act of turning is not merely physical but deeply spiritual, requiring us to consciously choose the light of God over the darkness of the world. By seeking God's presence, we find ourselves flourishing, much like sunflowers thrive in the sun. This daily decision to turn towards God is a testament to our faith and commitment to living a life aligned with His will. [02:37]

"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally turn towards God's light today, especially in moments of doubt or darkness?


Day 2: The Discipline of Choosing Light
The act of turning towards the light is a spiritual discipline that requires mindfulness and intentionality. It involves a conscious decision to move away from the darkness of temptation, inadequacy, and resentment, and instead, embrace the light of Christ. This discipline is akin to the biblical notion of conversion, which means to turn. Every day, we are faced with choices that either draw us closer to the light or pull us into darkness. The challenge lies in continually choosing the light, even when it is difficult or when our natural inclination might be to hide or retreat into darkness. [03:21]

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you often choose darkness over light. What practical steps can you take today to choose the light of Christ in that area?


Day 3: Conversion as a Daily Turning
Conversion, in its essence, means to turn. Our lives are a series of choices that either draw us closer to God or pull us into darkness. This turning is not a one-time event but a daily decision that requires us to be mindful of our actions and intentions. The story of a friend's grandfather, who carried a silver dollar as a symbol of his need to always be right, illustrates the burden of pride and the freedom found in turning towards the light. By relinquishing this burden, he found freedom in Christ. This act of turning is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey; God is with us, guiding and encouraging us. [03:49]

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one burden or prideful habit you need to turn away from today? How can you invite God into this process of turning?


Day 4: God's Presence in Our Journey
The story of the silver dollar illustrates the burden of pride and the freedom found in turning towards the light. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey; God is with us, guiding and encouraging us. Like a master composer, God is present in our lives, turning our simple efforts into a beautiful symphony. He whispers encouragement, urging us to keep going and to trust in His presence and guidance. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are invited to turn, turn, turn towards the light, knowing that the darkness cannot overcome it. [06:16]

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge where you felt alone. How can you remind yourself of God's presence and guidance in similar situations in the future?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Symphony
In our daily lives, we are like the child playing chopsticks on a grand piano, with God improvising a beautiful symphony around our simple efforts. He whispers encouragement, urging us to keep going, to not give up, and to trust in His presence and guidance. This imagery reminds us that our efforts, no matter how small, are part of a greater divine plan. As we continue to turn towards the light, we can trust that God is orchestrating a beautiful symphony in our lives, transforming our simple actions into something magnificent. [10:41]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: What simple effort or action can you take today, trusting that God will use it as part of His greater plan for your life?

Quotes


One of the remarkable things about a sunflower is its love for the light is its love for the sun. You might think that plants can't move; I usually think of them that way, but you would be wrong. Sunflower in its early days is what's called the heliotrol peliosis from the Greek word for sun. [00:01:12]

In him was life, and that life was the light of all humanity. The light was coming into the world, the light that gives life. The light has come into the darkness, and the darkness cannot put it out. So now the invitation for you and me today is to be a little heliotrope. [00:03:04]

In any moment, my mind can get pulled into the darkness of temptation or the darkness of inadequacy or the darkness of resentment, and then I remember my friend Jesus is here, and I was made to be turned towards him. One of the words in the Bible for convert is to turn. [00:03:30]

When true simplicity is gained, to bend and to bow, to serve and to worship, we shan't be ashamed. To turn, turn, will be our delight, till by turning, turning, we come out right. And we need that because, as Jesus also said in the gospel of John, part of the difficulty is that although this light has come into the world, we prefer darkness. [00:04:40]

He did that for many, many, many years until he met Jesus, and he realized that he had been treating his wife out of a heart of darkness, and he wanted to turn to the light. And so he gave my friend Steve that silver dollar and told him the story and said, "I'm not carrying any more the need to show that I am right." [00:06:04]

I was taking a shower the other day, and it was quite a while before I got into it. Nancy just yelled, "Drought!" because there's a drought going on. It's hard for things like sunflowers to grow, and water was wasting. But internally, my response was not, "Yes, I care about God's creation." [00:06:36]

Here's what Paul Tournier writes about how a person that he has been talking to, working with for weeks, even months on end in utter darkness, when suddenly a light shines, not from us, to illumine that life. The living God has been breaking in upon that person, rousing into activity the guiding force that will suddenly manifest itself. [00:07:46]

He says our life is a score composed by God. The person, you or I, is the conductor who is assuring its performance by directing the orchestra, our body, our mind, what God has given to us. But the composer is not absent. He is there during the performance. He leans over to the conductor and encourages him. [00:08:22]

Instead of yelling, he rushes out there and puts those two great big arms around the little arms of that tiny little child, and he begins to improvise this magnificent composition right on the spot to chopsticks. And while he's doing that, he leans down and whispers into the ear of that little child, "Just keep going, just keep playing, just don't stop, just don't quit. You and I will do this together." [00:09:36]

In our messed up, inadequate, weak, often darkness-filled little lives, he bends down over us in his grace, and he whispers into our ears, "You keep going today. You don't stop today. You keep on playing because I'm at work with you. I'm the one that's making the music." [00:10:18]

All through the day, you turn to the light when darkness comes, when you're afraid, when you might feel depressed about something, when you're aware that you're inadequate, when you are tempted to do the wrong thing, when you mistreat somebody, when somebody mistreats you, we turn, turn, turn to the light. [00:10:44]

We are heliotropic beings, and the light has come into the darkness, and the darkness cannot put it out. We turn, run this great adventure together. [00:11:05]

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Transcript
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