Living as Light - Part 3

Another way we are lights in this dark world is to love.  As followers of Jesus our love is not based feelings but on a commitment.  The choice to love like Jesus is not a one time choice but one we make over and over again.  It is a commitment to love like Jesus loved.

What does Jesus love look like?
How do we reflect that love our lives?

In the letter of 1 John we find a good answer to both of these questions.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
  The New International Version. (2011). (1 Jn 3:16–18)

The answer to the first question is that Jesus love causes the lover to lay down his or her life.  This is a love of action.  Jesus saw our need for forgiveness and He did what we necessary to accomplish that.   We see the material needs of our brothers and sisters and help meet those needs.  Instead of talking about how much we love our sisters and brothers they know we love them by what we are doing.

Words are cheap and easy but we reflect Jesus’ love in our lives when we act out that love! 

Living as Light Part 2

Living as Light - Part Two

Last week I wrote an article based on a true story that a friend of mine posted on Facebook about her daughter.  It was a reminder that as followers of Jesus we are being watched by those around us. Therefore, our lives as followers of Jesus should be a light to those around us in this dark world.

How are we to be light?

What does this bright life look like?

Peter writes

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The New International Version. (2011). (1 Pe 2:11–12).

To begin with our as lights we abstain from submitting to our sinful desires.  The biggest sinful desire is our own pride. The sin of pride is when we believe and act as if we are our own gods.  Have you ever acted like you we more important than others around you? Have you ever acted like the rules don’t apply to you?  Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought it didn’t apply to you? Have you ever ignored a clear command of the LORD and did your own thing?  If you answered yes then you have committed the sin of pride.

Pride eclipses the LORD’s light with our own darkness.  It is our selfish desire to be in control and in command instead of submitting to the LORD.

What are we to do?

We are to repent, have faith and allow the LORD to take the center of our lives.

Living as Light Part 1

“You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5.14 - 16



Imagine your a young woman working hard 40 hours a week at pizza place in a small town.  During the week most of the days are good but once a week things get ruff.  On those nights several large orders come in at once and get picked up at about the same time.  The customers who come for these large orders are in a hurry and can be grumpy with the staff of the pizza place.



This is extremely disappointing for you because these large orders all come from local churches.  You would expect these good church going people to be merciful, kind, patient and joyful but many times they are jerks instead.  You even attended church with some of these people.



This little tale is based on a true story a friend of mine posted on Facebook about her daughter.  It is a reminder that as followers of Jesus we are being watched by those around us.



This should not surprise us at all Jesus Christ tells us early on that we are a light to the world.  Be light to the those around you who our culture and society consider weakest or least important.  Be light to people at work, school, on your team, in your family and in our church community.