Are You Ready To Show People The Light?

Good Morning Friends,

When God turns off the lights one must have faith to act otherwise one is stuck in the dark. It is a good time to have friends and especially a friend in Jesus. It is a good time for us to shine from the inside as a powerful witness. It is a good time to realize that there is evil in the institutional church and contradictions that rock our belief, but even in the great darkness we have a responsibility to not be sarcastic and spiteful having served with kindness. We are to find joy in surprising places. Are You Ready To Show People The Light?

Scripture: The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Isaiah 50:5-9a (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

James 2:14-18 (NRSV)

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Mark 8:27-35 (NRSV)

Message: If Jesus can save us from death, we really should not sweat the small stuff. But when we are hurting and need God the most, it may be difficult to sense the divine presence. And in these times of all times, our attitudes and actions need to demonstrate that our faith is real. It is this that turns on the lights of our emotions. But the painfully honest reality is that there are issues that can and do make us depressed. Here we need to remember that how we respond to the Holy Spirit of God makes a big difference. Here we need to remember that repentance is not only for unbelievers but for those that believe as well. Friends, because we are all sinners saved by grace, we are quite often candidates for repentance ourselves especially when it comes to our attitude. So, when we are depressed, it is a good time to recommit our life to Christ realizing there are sins of omission and commission and the disposition as well. And here it is important to be real in our relationship with God and others. Sometimes it is more appropriate to put up than shut up but always we need an attitude of never giving up. When Jesus faced the gates of hell it was not easy. And let’s face it, Jesus sometimes takes us to difficult places. But in these difficult times the light we shine can make more of a difference in the darkness than in the light. Here we have an amazing opportunity to both share Christ and serve others. It is not about getting people to come to church or fellowship but instead be a walking prayer of light in the lives of others even when it is clear we have more pain than many we may be praying for.

Pray when we face the dark night of our souls that we trust in God. Pray we like Christ are willing to be suffering servants. Pray we realize it is not about us. Pray we are the light at the end of the tunnel for others. Pray we demonstrate God’s presence. Pray we trust in God’s love. Pray we are real in our relationships but also carry an attitude of gratitude for even the severe mercy of God. Pray we find joy in unexpected places. Pray the lies of Satan do not deter us from the work God would have us to do. Pray we expose the genuineness of our faith to confront the darkness of evil. Pray we demonstrate the Good News of the light of Christ in response to the bad news of the world. Pray Jesus shows us the way. Pray Jesus’ life urge us into action according to His will. Pray we do not give up nor give into the darkness. Pray we realize that it is darkest before the dawn.

Blessings,

John Lawson