My sweet mother-in-law shared with me a story from her childhood. Her mom had decorated the front of their house with lights of all colors! She remembers that the bushes were all lit up and it looked so pretty. Unfortunately someone stole them, right from their house! They took all the bulbs out. How disappointing to a child. It hit me this morning that everyone likes lights. They are a source of grown-up smiles and childlike joy. Some lights are small, some are big but they all designed to shine… And shine they will, unless…someone steals them…
We are like lights of Jesus’ love! We are attractive to others when we shine out hope in Jesus! Because we will lead others to want that hope, the enemy will attempt to steal us so we become useless to light up a dark world. Would the enemy steal a light that was dim or only worked some of the time? Probably not. It dawns on me that the enemy wants the opposite of what Jesus wants:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
As lights for Jesus, we are also useless if we are not plugged in. We can always plug in to Jesus and be lit up though! Our power source is obedience to what Jesus says and what God says. In a way, the Bible is our “outlet.” In obedience, we plug into its never ending source of wisdom, making us shine in a dark world. Daniel sees this in a vision of the end times. The time will come when we will be judged for our light and how we use it to show others the Way.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12: 2-3 NIV
As lights do, we can become broken. We are not much use to others or ourselves when we are without light. Only our Creator understands what is broken in us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He is only too willing for to fix us. Confessing our brokenness to Jesus is the best first move to wholeness. Nothing in the world can fix what is broken inside of us. Only Jesus can. He makes us whole again! Now, we can be a beacon to others. Knowing we all have been broken, and who can fix us we can shine that light of hope to them! It may not be easy to put others before ourselves, but the mission is clear. Our life is meant to shine for Jesus and others.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Philippians 2: 14-16
To continue our song… On the 3rd day before Christmas, My Jesus made me see…a light like Him is what I want to be. As we smile at Christmas lights, let us be lights for Jesus! How exciting that we get to help Him with His mission! That means less of our own desires and more of His desire to reach out to others, lighting the way to a relationship with Him. Less is more with Jesus:)
Jesus,
We know you are the light of the world. Thank You for wanting to use us, as imperfect as we are, to shine for You. We can only do that if we are truly plugged in and committed to Your mission to save the world. Help us in our brokenness and weakness at times, when we feel we aren’t very useful. Show us our gifts that can be used for You. You made us all special so that we can serve You in different ways. Light our way to serving You and showing You to others. We love You so much!
Love and prayers to all. We are all partners in the light!
Just me. Just His servant.
Glory in the Morning 