Shine Brightly
“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, …”
In spite of Jesus’ many attempts to squelch – or at least to regulate – the dissemination of information about what He was doing (specifically healing and delivering people from demonic influences), the word got out, and people from all over the region began flocking to see Him. Now, of course, many of these people were just after the prospect of witnessing or receiving miraculous healings by Jesus. But Luke mentions that some also came to hear Him speak (see Luke 6:17-19). Why would people travel great distances to hear Jesus speak? Because He spoke differently. “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29). People were also attracted to Jesus because He was a light in this very dark world. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12). (See also John 1:1-9). That light attracts people.
A wonderful thing happens when a person is “born again” in Christ and becomes a part of the family of God. Some rays of that glorious “light of the world”, which is Jesus, begins to emanate from that person (or at least that should be happening). Jesus told His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a 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 who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). How is this possible? Because God Himself comes to literally dwell in us as believers. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23). The Holy Spirit comes to fill those who repent and trust in Jesus alone as Savior and Lord (see John 14:15-17). God’s light not only shines from within us as believers, but upon us, to be observed by the world around us. “The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.” (Psalm 118:27a).
The point is, that as believers, there should be something different about us – something attractive (in a non-physical sense) that makes others take notice. Are we allowing God’s light in us to radiate outwardly unobstructed, to do its work of drawing people to the living God? Or are we hiding our faith behind the camouflage of worldliness, trying our best to “fit in,” because we are afraid of appearing to be some sort of religious zealot or fanatic? If no one has taken notice of, or remarked, about your faith in a while, it may be time to evaluate your willingness to look and be different.
“...for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),…” (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Often, when we’re walking as “children of the light,” the doors more frequently open for us to have spiritual conversations with neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. And this doesn’t mean we start beating people over the head with the Gospel or try to shove our faith down their throats the minute the door opens. We display the love of Christ; we listen, and answer questions thoughtfully and respectfully. We share about our personal experience of trusting in Christ as Savior and the ways He has worked in our lives. “...but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16). We display the reality of Christ living in us and make it available for them to willingly choose for themselves.
We want to live in a way so that no one can bring a charge against us. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,…” (Philippians 2:14-15). “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:9-12).
Perhaps we can think of being a light for Jesus Christ by using a different sense. There is a difference between an odor and a scent or fragrance. The term “odor” usually carries with it a negative connotation; that is, it is usually associated with something foul-smelling or overly powerful. A fragrance is something pleasant, gentle, and alluring. We don’t want the way we live our lives to be an off-putting odor to those around us – something that pushes them away from God. We want our lives to be a sweet fragrance that draws people to Christ. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
In all of this, we don’t seek to be noticed for the sake of our own recognition. We seek to connect people to the living God through Jesus Christ by making His reality visible in our lives.
Prayer
Father, forgive us for the times when we have doused Your light in our lives by the way we live. Grant us the courage to live as You have called us to live – as noticeably different in this world, letting Your light shine brightly, in and through us. Let Your love, patience, and kindness be demonstrated when we interact with those around us. For Your glory, and in Your Name, we pray. Amen.
