Be the light!

For the past few weeks, I’ve found myself in my devotions studying the book of Philippians.   The Lord has used this book to speak to me about being the light in this dark world.   The world we are currently facing is a dark one with what seems to be a hopeless fight in front of us.  But with Jesus, nothing is hopeless.  But God has been going deeper with me about looking more closely at the darkness in my own day to day life.  Sure, the world as a whole is dark right now, but what about our own individual life and walk with him.  What does that look like right now?   How can I be a light to the world, if my own light is dark and dim?  The answer is both easy and complex at the same time…..Jesus!   Jesus must be the center of our life in order forour light to remain strong.  For our light to shine of God’s Goodness, we must be walking hand in hand with Jesus, following his words, digging deep in our relationship with him! 

Being the light so others can see it is how we bring Jesus nearer to this dark world, but first we must have Him be the light for ourselves before we can even begin to attempt to bring the light to the world around us.  

Philippians 1: 12-14 - “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole place guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”   

Philippians 2: 3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.”

Many times, when I’m looking at my own life and trying to determine why I’m not being the light that I should be or others are not seeing Jesus the way I would like them too through me, when I dig down deep, it normally comes back to my own selfish ambition.   I find myself trying to be the light but get in my own way rather than just stepping back and getting out of His way.  He can do the work that needs to be done in my life which then can transform my actions, my responses, my words, into His own works so that others see him through me which is ultimately what we want when we come to the end of each day, to say that we lived today for Him and others got to see Him through us!  

How do we become like Paul, who is in prison but still showing Jesus to everyone he meets?  Even in this “dark place” Jesus is the center of his words and actions and thus everyone around him is able to see the light!

Philippians 3: 1 – “rejoice in the Lord!”

Philippians 4: 4-5 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all”

Philippians 3: 8 – “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

 So back to my question of how we become like Paul –

Rejoice in the Lord Always.

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

This is how your light will continue to shine for the Glory of God!

Everything else is a loss compared to knowing Christ Jesus personally.  Having that personal relationship with him. Letting him lead you, going to him in prayer, digging into his words, this is how you keep your head above water in the darkening world and be the light the others need to be so that God’s Glory and His Grace surrounds you and thus spreads to all those around you as well!

God Bless you all and may He be the light you need each and every day!

Joe Austin