Thomas More was beheaded in 1535 at the order of King Henry the 8th.

The last thing More wrote while imprisoned in the tower of London was a devotional work called The Sadness of Christ. In it he penned this moving phrase about God: “he that by the infinite brightness of his divine majesty maketh all things lightsome…”*

I really like this, especially the word “lightsome.” We don’t tend use it any more. But there’s a beauty and majesty about it. The infinite brightness of God’s divine majesty ignites those who are his own and who are under his care: they become “lightsome.”

If that sounds theoretical, it doesn’t have to be. An embrace, a word of wisdom, a thoughtful gift, an encouraging word, a practical helping hand, a song, a laugh…

Jesus said: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

How can you be lightsome today?

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–Notice: The Up Devotional will go on pause from August 8 to 29 while I am on vacation. It will return on August 30, 2022. You can access back issues here, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. You can also buy the latest book of devotionals called Turbulence on Amazon here.

–*Thomas More, The Sadness of Christ (Ivory Falls Books, 2017), 18.

–“Follow the light.” Sermon. July 31, 2022. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.