light

How Bright is Your Light?

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Boy. Did I ever get a shock when I walked into his office. He was playing Christian music. And in the two years I’ve worked with this man, I never would have thought he would be associated with anything Christian. As I stood there talking to him, I wanted to join in singing “I’m a Survivor” with Zach Williams. But I didn’t. I kept a straight face and stayed in the conversation as my mind was running in circles trying to figure out this man I was talking to. Is he a Christian?

I wonder. If the roles were reversed and he walked into my office as I listened to Christian music, would he be as shocked as I was hearing it in his office? Would he question how I could be a Christian after he has seen the way I work and heard the words I say? Does he see an attitude of resentment or inconsistency in me?

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

I don’t mean to judge the man. But by what I see and know of him, I wouldn’t assume he’s a Christian. And I know. Just because someone listens to Christian music doesn’t mean they’re a Christian. But also, it doesn’t mean they’re not a Christian if they don’t carry their Bible to work. And, besides, Christians aren’t perfect people.

That gives me pause, though. What do others think of me? Is the love of Christ evident in my life? Do I work as if I’m working for the Lord? Does my work ethic speak of reliability and integrity? Do I always try to do my best, even when no one is looking? And it’s not just at work that I should consider my Christian witness.  Am I a godly neighbor to the family living next door? Oh. They see me leave for church each Sunday. But anyone can go to church. Does my life offer the sweet aroma of Christ to a lost and hurting world? Do my actions speak louder than my words?

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Ephesians 5:15

How bright is my light in the world? If I don’t ever tell others about my faith, can they see it lived out?

Oh. I’ve never heard vulgarity spew from this man’s mouth, but I have heard him speak ill of others. It makes me question myself more than I question him. What have others heard me say about others? Do I look for the good in someone even when all that’s visible is not good? Do I voice those concerns for any ear to hear? Or do I place a guard around my negative thoughts? Just because I think something doesn’t mean I have to speak it. Just because something is true, doesn’t mean I have to share it with others.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32

I noticed a mistake in my work the other day. And I noticed it almost too late. I had decided I would let it go and hope for the best. But I knew that it would eventually be discovered. I didn’t want to correct the mistake, because it would require me to undo some work and then re-do it. I was on a self-imposed deadline, and I didn’t want to be bothered. Would anyone even know if I left it? Yes. They would, but it probably would have taken weeks to be discovered. And maybe by then I would have forgotten about it. 

But then. I felt that thumping of my heart. I knew God was nudging me to do the right thing. So I did. I had to admit my mistake and ask for help. I had to undo the error and then correct it. But I did it. And now I have a clear conscience. As a Christian, I need to work with integrity and character, even when only God is watching.

And now I find myself wondering why I even considered letting the error go. Why would I do that? Don’t I want to do my best work possible? Would I have been tempted to lie later down the line when the mistake was uncovered? It was an honest mistake, after all. But the attempt to cover it up would have been dishonest. And I just couldn’t do that.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5

The ultimate goal of Jesus for His disciples was that His life be reproduced in them, and through them into the lives of others.

Robert Coleman

If no one can see the life of Jesus in our lives, what does our witness look like? What is seen in Christians if it isn’t the life of Jesus? Do we live out the ten commandments? Do we live by the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7? Do we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily? Is our light shining on a hill for the world to see, or do we keep it covered for safekeeping? If we’re not letting our light shine, then what are we doing? If others can’t see our light, is it even shining?

Darkness

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The room was pitch black. No lights were shining anywhere in the house. And for that matter, no lights were shining in the neighborhood. At all. It was almost apocalyptic. There was a power outage in the middle of the night. The only reason she knew of the outage was because she woke up a little after midnight. The house was so dark that she felt a little unnerved getting out of bed. Oh. She knew the layout of her house. She could walk it in the dark. But there she was. The darkness was so thick, she couldn’t see anything. It was one thing to walk in the dark of the house with a few nightlights conveniently placed. But to walk around in total darkness, even in a familiar setting, was unsettling. It was as though the place had been invaded by unknown entities. And even though she hadn’t heard any strange sounds. No doors opening. No glass shattering. No stairs creaking. She still felt uncomfortable in her own home.

Hours earlier, a small nightlight had shone as brightly as it could in the dark space. Now all lights were darkened. But that small shard of light had offered a calming effect in the darkness. What shadows were there offered affirmation that nothing sinister was lurking. Whereas, the total darkness caused uncertainty even though no evidence of threats arose. One must be careful in the dark. Stepping on forgotten shoes or an empty box can send someone into the depths of fear and panic.

But while still dark a few hours later, a low hum filled the space. Clocks blinked. Lights flickered. Power was restored. And in that moment, all felt right with the world.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:15

The dark is a frightening place to be. It’s unnerving. Unsettling. Uncomfortable. Even though our eyesight will adjust to see shapes and shadows in the dark, we still don’t see clearly. Confusion can set in, along with fear and anxiousness.

People living in darkness can’t see the path they’re on. Because of their blindness, they don’t know the pitfalls and troubles that are ahead. Darkness causes fear and paranoia. Anger. Manipulation. Panic. When we’re in darkness, we’re in a self-protective mode. We don’t know what lies ahead. The next turn in the road may do us in. So we keep our guard up. Can’t be too careful. Don’t trust others.

Imagine living in darkness all the time. Never rising to see the light. Oh. Many people do it every day. Even for a lifetime. And I’m not talking about physical darkness. I’m talking about spiritual darkness. Anyone who has not confessed their sins and committed their life to Jesus Christ is living in darkness. And their darkness will remain unless they repent.

Just a tiny ray of light is all it takes to expose the darkness. And someone living in the dark doesn’t want to get close to the light, because then they may be exposed. That might require change. Or conviction. And who wants that? Who wants to be confronted with their sins? Who wants the weight of guilt hanging on their shoulders? But that’s what the light does. Even a small pinprick of light is all it takes to expose the darkness. And shouldn’t we be relieved when there is light? Shouldn’t we breathe a sigh of relief when there is even a bit of light? Because then we can see the path ahead. We know where to turn and when to walk straight ahead.

The light is hard on the eyes when darkness is all that’s known. The adjustment to light may take time, but it’s worth the pain and discomfort. Because light brings freedom and hope.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. John 3:19-21

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

Points of Light

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

A former President used a phrase in different speeches that called for organizations spread throughout the nation to do good. He asked for people to get involved. He called for a thousand points of light. After he left office, he founded an organization with the same name.

Here’s what he said.

I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I will ask every member of my government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.

George H.W. Bush

It’s a great idea. A thousand points of life. But what does it mean? Does it make any sense? Does it have any meaning in light of current events? This man was on a mission to find willing men and women who would work together to do good.

I am on a mission to find believers who are willing to be a point of light in their neighborhood. In their schools. In their communities. In their churches. Are there people who will stand for truth at all costs?

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

As a believer, we have many opportunities to let our lights shine. When we serve the poor, our light is shining. When we give to the needy, our light is shining. When we are persecuted for standing for truth. When we speak words of truth in a conversation filled with lies. When we share our God-given gifts. When we live a biblical life, our light is shining. Let’s shine our light for the world to see.

Duty. A Christian must pray. We must pray about everything. We must pray that the lost seek a relationship with God. We must pray for those who hurt us. We must seek forgiveness for our sins. We must pray for our spiritual, business and government leaders. Whether we agree with them or not. We must pray for our nation to return to God.

As believers, we can’t live this life without God’s help. We can’t do it on our own. We must turn to God on a regular basis to seek His will and His guidance. We can’t serve God alone and in our own strength.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

As Christians, we must forgive those who have wronged us. We must lay down our desire for revenge and forgive others. Forgiving others isn’t an option for those who call themselves believers. We must ask God to give us a heart of forgiveness, grace and mercy.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Sacrifice. We must give ourselves to serving God, at all costs. We must stand strong against the false teachings that are being shared these days. We must live a holy life. That means putting aside the desire to be accepted by those who don’t follow Christ’s teachings. There must be an obvious difference in how we conduct our lives. In the words we say. In the activities we participate in. In the ways we spend our money. What sets us apart may cost us everything in this life, but will reap us an eternal reward. Are we up for the challenge?

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Commitment. Be faithful to God. As believers, we must grow in our relationship with him. We must commit to doing the things Jesus would do. Love others. Forgive. Serve others. At the end of our lives, we need to be able to say we have fought the fight. We have finished the race. We have kept the faith. Our lives must be consistent with Christ’s teaching.

And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today. 1 Kings 8:61

Patriotism. We on this earth are looking for a homeland. We are strangers and exiles on this earth. Heaven is our home. We must stay true to biblical principles. We can’t let scoffers and mockers dismantle our beliefs. Let’s hold our light high so others can see that our faith won’t be swayed by the evil deeds and words of others. Read the Bible. Attend church. Spend time with those of the faith. Spend much time in prayer. Faithfully support our church with financial offerings.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

As Jesus is the light of the world, so too must we be a light.  We must never try to hide our light when we’re being ridiculed or mocked. In this day of trouble, others are looking for the light but they don’t recognize it. We must be that beacon of hope for them. 

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine.