Shining

Kutless opens "Shining" with incarnation stated as plainly as possible — "into darkness Love has come, God in flesh, bright as the sun, light that conquered sin and death" — pairing an abstract word, Love, with the most concrete image available, sunlight.

"All we want is to see your holy face, so all we are is your reflection" ties the song's own desire directly to its purpose, wanting to see in order to reflect rather than simply to observe. The chorus keeps its claim to three short lines repeated twice in a row — "you are shining, your glory fills the heavens, you are the light of the world" — letting the repetition itself function like a held note rather than added content.

"Lifted high upon the cross, the only way to save the lost" moves from the incarnation to its purpose without lingering on the distance between manger and cross, and "you brought hope to all mankind, and now forever you will shine" states permanence as the direct result of that sacrifice. The closing prayer, "shine upon us, cause your face to shine upon us," borrows the priestly blessing from Numbers almost word for word, asking to receive the very light the whole song has been describing.