One morning last week, I was having one of my semi-regular insecure, anxious conversations in my head.
“Is this what you want me to be doing, God? Does the world really need another blogger, writer, author? Are my words helpful, instructive, transformative? Is anyone reading? Does anyone care? (Anne Lamott says, “My mind is like a bad neighborhood, I try not to go there alone.”) Good advice on these mornings when I’m listening to the voice of the snake and not the voice of God.
When this happens, I stop trying to pray, I stop trying to think about what I read yesterday, I stop trying to think nice, loving thoughts about the angry old lady who yelled at me yesterday as I walked my dogs. Instead, I open the Word and dig in quickly — that tends to shut up the snake.
Matthew 5 –
“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 5:16
The word of the Lord for us today is: Let your light shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. And we say, Yes, Lord!
Let’s be clear about the theology of this. When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world,” He is saying that we, as believers, are already salt and light. When we crossed the line of faith and said yes to Jesus as Savior and Lord, we automatically became salt and light. Therefore, we do not need to pray about being made salt and light. What we need to pray about is how to be the saltiest salt and the brightest light we can be each day in every part of our spheres of influence. Be salt. Be light.
“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 . . .” (5:14)
In the same way that a city on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and then hide it under a basket, we are called to be lights to the communities around us — no hiding.
And not only are we commanded by Jesus not to hide our light, but we are taught to shine in such a way that people around us see the light, the light of our good works. This is not a prideful or boastful way of life. This is not a shining forth so that we are noticed and applauded and are theatre to others. This is a life that is lived so brightly and sparkly and winsomely that our good, light-filled works point to God and His glory and majesty.
And the light we are called to be is not a night-light kind of light. This is a moving, rotating, light up the night sky kind of light – like the ones announcing the opening of a new car lot. That kind of light. One I’m sure you can see from the international space station!
So, shine that light, daughter of the star breather! Shine that light, son of the King of Glory!
Go for it!
No fear, no hiding, no shrinking back, no apologies.
Be bold about your faith and your hopes and your gifts and your dreams.
This is God’s light in you and He calls His sons and daughters to get out on that hill! Get up on that stand!
Shine forth! Shine on! Shine always!
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