“The kingdom of God is in your midst.” — Luke 17:21
The Light Within
This morning’s quiet time pulled me back into a truth I keep circling: if the kingdom of God is already here, then His light — the light of the King — is already in us. It’s not something we’re waiting to receive later. It’s our inheritance.
Before we were born, I imagine we stood in God’s presence, radiant and whole. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, we volunteered to step out into the “far country” — this earth — curious, eager, ready to live. But here, the air is heavier, the ground more difficult. And sometimes, the light we carried feels dim under the weight of everyday life.
Still, God hasn’t stopped watching for us. His eyes are always on the road home.
Kingdom Living in the Everyday
The prodigal’s story is often framed as rebellion. But there’s another angle — longing. We are wanderers at heart. We go to work, keep schedules, run errands, and handle responsibilities. All good things. Yet beneath it all, we know these aren’t the truest measures of home.
I think of that inner light as a lantern in my chest. When I’m far from God, it doesn’t go out — but it flickers. Then there are moments when something (or someone) fuels it again: a prayer with a friend, worship in community, even a simple conversation where God’s love is obvious in the room.
As C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” Those are the moments that make me ache — in the best way — for what’s beyond this temporary chapter.
When the Light Burns Bright
Last night at a friend’s dinner gathering, I felt it — the lantern inside me burning stronger. It wasn’t the food or the music, though both were great. It was the encouragement. The remembering of each other’s stories. The way people prayed without hesitation.
It reminded me of the atmosphere at BTS concerts: strangers united in joy, gifts exchanged, love flowing freely. In those moments — whether with ARMY or in church — I’ve tasted something that felt like God’s kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” That’s what kingdom life looks like, here and now.
Scriptures to Hold Today
Luke 17:21 — “The kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Luke 15:20 — “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son…”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 — “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”
Self-Assessment Questions
1. Where in my life do I notice my “light” flickering — and what fuels it back to life?
2. Am I living as if God’s kingdom is here now, or as if it’s somewhere far away?
3. Who can I encourage today so they remember their own light?
Final Thoughts
We are all prodigals in some way — carrying the light of home into a world that forgets it exists. But when we return, God doesn’t meet us with questions. He runs toward us, lantern in hand, joy spilling over.
As Thomas Merton wrote, “We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.”
Today, don’t just protect your light. Share it. Let it burn bright enough for someone else to find their way home, too.
© 2025 Amelie Chambord
Soul Path Insights 
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