Shine, People, Shine

It's been awhile since I've heard the song, Shine, Jesus, Shine, by Hillsong. The chorus says, "Shine, Jesus, Shine, fill this land with the Father's glory. Blaze, Spirit, Blaze, set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy. Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light."

This morning as I went for an early walk and looked up at the moon and the stars, the Lord reminded me, "Let your (our) light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). So when I got home I looked up the passage again:

You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden... In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise (glorify) your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:13-16)

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden... in the same way, let your light shine..." People are looking at us. I recently saw an interview on ABC, I think it was, where the Victoria Secret Model for 2011 resigned because the Holy Spirit was convicting her about the conflicting message she was portraying as Christian baring her body before the world in such a sexy role. She gave glory to God in her interview by unashamedly telling the world that she  increasingly felt she was not being a good example to young girls as a Christian and the Lord convicted her to step down.

I think of some of the recent headlines of Christians coming under public attack and standing up for Christ. Again, I thought of this passage, "...A city on a hill cannot be hid...let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and praise (glorify) your Father in heaven." Now back to that classic song, Shine, Jesus, Shine; Jesus shines through us. Our lives are the ones on display. The light of Christ has to shine through us. It shines through us when we love our brothers, our neighbors, our co-workers and our enemies. The light of our lives shine when we live for Christ in our day to day relationships.

Jesus said, "...let your light shine before MEN, that they may SEE your good deeds and praise (glorify) your Father in heaven." I don't believe it's so much the work, ministry or "good deeds" you do within the church walls that He speaks of, but rather, the good deeds you do at home, at work, at the grocery store or shopping mall. It's the work done at the homeless shelter or soup kitchen, the work done at the prison or hospital visiting the sick. The work done shoveling snow for your neighbor who needs assistance or the good deed of patiently allowing the car at the stop sign or on your left to get in front of you. It's smiling at the check out cashier who might be disgruntled or tired. It's being patient with the waitress or waiter in the restaurant and leaving them a tip and a tract if you feel led.

My brother, who is not saved yet (it's coming), left a Christmas card in our mailbox for the mail woman. She was so grateful, she couldn't stop thanking me. I realized it must have been my brother. I wouldn't be surprised if he put a little monetary gift in there for her as well. If unbelievers can regularly do good deeds how much more should we? There are many unbelievers who serve at soup kitchens, homeless shelters and the like. What about the body of Christ? We all have different gifts and callings. Even if you don't feel as though you have any special gift or calling, you do. You have Christ. Open up your life and your eyes. Stop thinking about just you and yours as you go about your day. Smile, pray, be patient, be generous. Give yourself away. Don't just sing the song, live it. You are the light of the world.

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One of today's popular worship songs is, I Give Myself Away. Please read the lyrics below, but let's not just sing the words on Sunday or in our cars as we drive along, or at a conference, let's really live them.


Chorus:
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me

Verse 1:
Here I am
Here I stand
Lord, my life is in your hands
Lord, I'm longing to see
Your desires revealed in me
I give myself away

Verse 2:
Take my heart
Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands

Bridge:
My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you

Prayer:
Father, Help us as your people to live for you, to die to self and shine for you. Help us to be one, even as Jesus prayed so that the world may believe that You sent Him.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

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How is Your Light?

The last few days I've been pondering Jesus' words, "You are the light of the world." Today that passage lit up my soul.

Let's first examine light. When you turn ON light or a lamp it dispels the darkness, it illuminates a room so that people can see what's in the room and so that you can find your way around the room without bumping into things and hurting yourself right? In the New Testament era, there was no electricy, so lamps were used and lamps are mobile. They were held in front of you so that you could see where you were walking or in the home, they were carried from room to room as needed then put on a stand.

Picture with me millions of lamps lit throughout the world. Picture New York, Washington DC, Beijing, China or New Delhi, India at night with all the lights aglow as you watch as from a mountain or the highest point of the city. That's us in the spirit realm. Some are bright lights, some are dim lights. Some are big lights and some are small lights. Some are street lights shining for all who pass by while some are only lit in their home. We are the LIGHT of the world. If we turn our lights OFF what good are we? Imagine an electrical black out after a storm with thousands in darkness; no candles or kerosene lamps available. How horrid right?

The Son of God came to give light to a spiritually dark world. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) However the Light of God needs vessels or lamps to house the Light of God. That's us. For it is written, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ...We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Cor. 4:6, 7)

We are the lamps, the vessels that house the light of God and that bring light to a dark world. So how is your light? Is it lit? Are you shining in this world of spiritual darkness? Can anyone follow your light to get out of darkness? Can they see Christ in you? The next question is, "Is your light bright or growing dim?"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

If you want to have the light of Jesus to illuminate your heart and life and get rid of the darkness of your sin, pray this prayer with me:

"Father, I have sinned. I am not worthy of you. But you said, that if I confess my sins you are faithful and just and will forgive me of all my sins and purify me of all unrighteousness. Forgive me and cleanse me now, Father, I pray. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine in my heart so that I can see and so that I may live as one of your vessels, as one of your children, and become a light in this dark world, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

If this blog has been a blessing to you, please be an encouragement to me and let me know. The Lord be with you.