I was listening to a song today. It is a song we are all very familiar with. I was out walking a dog. It gave me a mental picture I have never thought of before. "this little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine..." and we all know the rest. I was walking on a street I am very used to so I easily pictured myself as a light, moving and walking down the street of complete black. This is such a true picture. The light is illuminating this dark, fallen world.
We are reflections of Christ, who is the light of the world. How are different then the dark? First off, we do not lack the redemption that inwardly sets us apart. But what about what people see? Don't get me wrong, it is God that judges us and He doesn't look on the outward like man, but on the inside. That is just it. We are told to be witnessess and let our "light so shine in the darkness". Who is looking in the outside? The Bible tells us: man. That is who we are witnessess of God to. So we are to stick out, even to shine. Now, not shining from ourselves. We are not supposed to be exalting oursleves. We have to be close to God, and reflecting His light. That is what will make us shine.
Finally, what will this look like? Think about a few things. We (Christians) are to be not of the world (darkness) but in the world. We are being watched. Is the church and Christians going into the world or is the world coming into the Church and our hearts? We are to be the ones influencing. What will set us apart? Many areas, but what people see is what will witness. What do we wear? Or don't wear....0_o. Who do we hang out with? What do we listen to? Do we use Gods name in vain? Even slang is in most cases wrong! When we talk about stuff or look a certain way, people associate us with everyday random Joe. Now I am not attacking exact things as morally wrong, (not is this post anyway) rather, I'm saying this: Christians, stand out! Shine as lights, do not be average and do not be mediocre. Be lights!!!
jdd
