Lights

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; - Philippians 2:15

Have you ever wondered “I’m a Christian now what?”  Ever thought to yourself “hmm I’ve got this whole sin thing under control and I go to church every Sunday so I must be doing pretty good.”   What about our faith, our gift of grace, our knowledge of our supreme merciful, loving creator?  What are we supposed to do with them?

So you have just graduated and you finally have that little piece of paper in your hand that says your worth something to the world.  What now?  For most it’s just find a job and jump right into the daily grind of a suburban life.   Maybe for you that includes going to church and tithing ten percent of your income and always sitting in the middle of the sanctuary, and making always appearing to listen attentively.  If this is you then well done you have achieved what most Christians would call a healthy life style.  But is it really?  Is this all that God calls us to do?

Let’s talk bit about God’s calling for our lives.  We know that He calls those “special or gifted” people to go across the world and to reach the “unchurched heathens” in their little jungle huts and He also calls a few to be pastors here in our own country but that’s it.  Those are really the only people God calls to be “lights in the world”.  Right?  I mean we all can’t be preachers and missionaries for God and still live our normal comfortable lives.  Can we?  Well the answer is no, we can’t.  But then is that what we are called to do?  Are all of us normal people supposed to fit in that “healthy Christian” mold? 

Truth is I personally think that it’s time to break the mold.  I think that living such a passive way of a Christian life is a huge waste.  Sure we aren’t all supposed book the next plane to South America but what about that soup kitchen down town? Or the elder lady next door? What about that lost family member?  It says in Philippians that we are to be lights in the world and does our world not include thee afore mentioned?  Does it not include your co-workers and your boss? Doesn’t include your children?

That’s what Paul is trying to get at here in Philippians, to be different from those around you.  That in a dark world you would be a hopeful, loving shining light for Him!    Just like pastors and missionaries make an impact in their fields of work, so can we.  By just shinning a little brighter for Jesus, to those around us, we can make a huge difference and it may not be instant but over time even the darkest palaces can be reached.  But how do we shine brighter?

Well I said it already, by being different from those around us.  Not just crazy different like dressing in a suit and tie or a dress everywhere you go but by actually living a life style that pleases and honors our wonderful creator.   We can also shine brighter by getting rid of those things that darken our lives.   Things that in an unbeliever’s eyes would subtract from out testimony as a light in the world, things such as reading magazines or books that aren’t God honoring or ,as it says in Philippians 4:8, anything that is excellent or praise worthy, think on such things.

So what am I trying to say through all of this babbling?  Simply this, we are to be a shining light in our world.  Be a positive influence on those around us, and not fall into being a “normal Christian”.   That’s all that God really desires, for us to live a life that is sold out to Him and to show to others the same love and compassion that Jesus Christ showed us.  I pray that I will be able to do the same and that my fellow Christians will be a help and encouragement each other in this regard.