“Light up the darkness!”

It’s a dark world in which we live. Yesterday, a major university suspended all fraternities on campus after a young woman’s horrific account of a 3 hour long sexual assault was published in Rolling Stone magazine. Two years ago, in the first month of her freshman year, this small town honor student was invited to a fraternity party where young men of privilege and standing did unspeakable things to her.  What would cause these boys to think that this was right, even if they thought they would not pay any consequence?  I am not naïve and realize these things happen every day.

So, we must let our Light shine!  

Then, the news this morning is full of stories about the anger that smolders in this country.  When the grand jury in St. Louis found no cause to indict the police officer in the death of a young black man that anger exploded. Christian we can shine the Light.  Before you speak today, pray.  Let your words reveal a heart that seeks peace. Choose to bring light, not to deepen the darkness of hatred.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16, NLT)  

Being the bearers of light is our mission and a great privilege. It’s not our own radiance that we offer. "It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-8, The Message)

What can we do to be His lights?

First, we love, boldly, sacrificially. We cannot be content to know Christ and isolate ourselves in little safe groups, a holy huddle. Each one of us will interact with people today who are hurting. In some cases one kind word will be enough. For others love will be patient listening.  Where the Spirit leads, we can point others to Christ, to hope in His power to change.

Then, we live holy lives.  Yes, we show the way to live – with integrity, with excellence. “Good deeds,” Jesus called it. Knowing that we belong to Him, that we are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit,’ we pray for the enablement to live differently.  We go beyond mere pious displays of folded hands and public prayers!  We do right things, adopt right attitudes, and ourselves commit to His plans.  And His light shines.

As you take up the challenge of reflecting His Light into the dark places of this world, don’t think that everyone will admire or thank you! Some love the darkness and when the light threatens to expose their acts, they will try to put it out. But, be fearless.  John wrote of the promise of the Lord’s power and reward. "Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying, Salvation and power are established! Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah! The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out, who accused them day and night before God. They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness. They weren’t in love with themselves; they were willing to die for Christ." (Revelation 12:10-11, The Message)

Will you light up your world today?  Here’s the word from the Word - “When God is personally present, a living Spirit … Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of His face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”  2 Corinthians 3:17-18 The Message

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In The Light

I wanna be in the light as You are in the light,

I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens!

Lord, be my light and be my salvation.

All I want is to be in the light,

All I want is to be in the light.

I wanna be in the light as You are in the light,

Lead me into the presence of the Father!

I will follow right behind, true love I will find.

All I want is to be in the light,

All I want is to be in the light.

Is there such a thing as a man of peace?

If there is, then a man of peace I want to be.

I will need Your help if I am ever to be that,

If I'm to lay down, lay down, lay down,

Then I'll lay my life for my brothers and sisters.

I will need Your help.

Jesus. I need Your light forever shining bright!

Charlie Peacock

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