Do you accept the responsibility God gives you to shine your light?Today's Scripture:
You will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives life.
Philippians 2:15-16
An amazing thing about gazing at stars on a dark night is that the blanket of darkness does not cover the stars, but actually enhances the beauty of the brightness. The display proves that light is more powerful than darkness. Just as a candle disrupts the cloak of darkness in a room, you are to be the light that interrupts the darkness in another person's world.
Being a shining star carries the responsibility of offering light to those who are hopeless or heartless. By living a lifestyle of holiness, you offer the teaching that shines God's love and light for others to see. Holiness I know sounds intimidating to some people. I know for myself and my wife when God first called me into ministry I thought I am not Holy or good enough to stand a the front of the church or talk to the people on the street or in the hospital and tell them how to live. For my wife I know when she married me I was no where near a preacher so how could I then expect her to carry the burden of being the preacher's wife.
What we both have found as we have grown in Christ and our faith life is that holiness is not the same as legalism, religion, or even conservatism.
Holiness simply means that you are striving to live an uncompromising life that pleases God.
This does not imply that you are better or higher...just that you are trying to live and shine the light that God has placed in you.
When you allow God to use you by showing others consideration where you are at as a pickle worker, teacher, coach, student, retiree or whatever your position in life, you are offering life-giving principles to them. Express godly character by extending mercy when it is not expected or by offering a joyful response to a negative situation. Holiness isn't hard. It can be a simple as an expression of hope to someone facing a challenge in life. Being a shining star may not bring you personal gain or fame, it may cause people to fear you, but regardless when you shine the light God has placed in you it will give others around you the life and hope that God offers to brighten their gloomy world.
Selah people' and friends let your light shine! Share the credit for success, congratulate a colleague or coworkers who have done a great job on a project or broke a record, or send an encouraging card or email to an ill coworker. Seek out ways to express God's love through your actions.
"Remember God has placed the light within each of us and it is our responsibility to share it with others and be true Shining Stars that he has made us to be in this dark world. Will you join me today in shining our light for Jesus?"
Your pastor,
Rev Patrick Muston ~ via mobile Westbrooke Park Mount Olive, NC
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