Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “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.”
I love the Motel 6 slogan, “We’ll leave the light on.” What a great way to say to travelers “we will always be there for you.”
A couple of days ago I was talking with a Christian friend about the importance of having our “light” shine no matter what the circumstance. Good bosses, bad bosses, good days, bad days, good jobs, bad jobs, sickness, health, mean people, nice people, in-laws, out-laws, good spouses, bad spouses, good kids, challenging kids…through all of this we are called as Christians to keep our light shining. Yep, I know, easier said than done.
Christianity as a whole is getting a bad rap these days because many of us operate our light with a dimmer switch and even worse some of our lights take on the appearance of a strobe which make non-Christians dizzy :). We pick and choose when we want to act like Christians and the non-Christians view this as hypocrisy…understandably so.
I can remember years ago when I was a “dimmer switch Christian.” I used God when I needed him.
As Christians it is not about using God it is about God using us and he can’t use us if His light is not shining through us.
Have you ever thought about the opportunities you let pass you by because your light wasn’t on and God couldn’t use you? I try very hard to not let that happen today.
“Our” light is really Christ’s light shining through us. The key to having “our” light on is to choose to follow Jesus daily so He can light our path. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:4 (NIV). “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 (NIV). In John 1:4, John is talking about Jesus. In John 8:12, Jesus is talking about himself.
So what is your light looking like these days? Do you have a dimmer switch or does it look like something out of a 70’s disco club?
There is only a couple of things you need to do on a daily basis to have your light shine as consistently as Motel 6’s. First you need to flip your switch on first thing in the morning by surrendering all you do to Him so your light is actually His light. Then poor some fuel on the fire by reading the word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
And last but not least…keep the switch turned on all day long so God can use you no matter what the circumstance.
P.E.A.C.E.
