Let Your Light Shine

Hello Friends,

Welcome to the first Sunday of Fall! Can you believe that just last week when we met it was still Summer?! And now, the weather is cooler, the leaves are falling, the fields are becoming empty, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier and earlier. We are definitely in a new season. Are you happy that Fall is here?

While driving around, I’ve noticed, besides the leaves and falling and changing colors and the many tractors out in the fields, that many people around here have been having bonfires. On cool crisp evenings, a warm and bright flame brings a glow to the ground below as some people roast hotdogs and make S’mores and they can be heard laughing and enjoying the evening. Even though the weather is changing and the sunlight is getting less, people are finding ways to enjoy the season.Growing up, bonfires were my favorite thing about Fall. My dad would put one together every weekend; and every weekend we would roast hot dogs, have chips, brownies, and S’mores made with Reese’s Peanut Buttercups. To drink, my mom would bring out things to make hot chocolate. It was a special time for all of us.

I was thinking about those bonfires this past week, and they got me thinking. Besides warmth and entertainment, those bonfires brought forth light in the darkness, which is what Jesus does in our life. Now, I can’t bring a fire to you, but I can certain share with you a flashlight. So let me share with you about the light of Christ through a simple flashlight.

First, what can flashlights do? They can shine the way for us to see things, or for others to see. They show us what is around us. They can be used for games like flashlight tag. They can be used for entertainment. But you know….this light doesn’t seem to be shining right now. Do you know why?? That’s right! It’s not turned on.

Let me turn it on. It’s still not working. Hmmm…. I wonder what’s wrong? You say it doesn’t have batteries. I didn’t even think about that. Let me put some in and see what happens. Now it’s working! It needed batteries to shine.

Did you know that our Christian lives can be this way sometimes? God calls us to be the light of the world and sometimes we aren’t shining very brightly because something happens that makes us sad or upset. But then Jesus sees us and gives us what we need to shine brightly! Why does He do that? He does that because He wants us to tell others about Him, and to demonstrate His love to people.

In the Bible, Jesus tells us to let our light shine so that others can know we have something special. The good news of Jesus is so amazing that we don’t want to keep it to ourselves. We want to share it with other people. We want to let His light shine for all to see. We want to light up the whole world with God’s love!

Jesus says to the people, “You are the light of the world.” But Jesus also said that he was the light of the world. Our “light” does not come from our own power. This lamp (or flashlight or light) only shines if it is turned and either plugged in or using batteries. So our light can only shine if we are connected to the light of Jesus. We have to be “plugged in” to Him constantly. We have to stay charged by our power source. How do we do that? We can be faithful to read God’s word, the Bible. We can pray, and pray continually. We don’t just pray or read the Bible once in awhile or when we are at church; we can do this all the time! God always wants to hear from us, and we can ask Him for help in letting the light of Christ shine for all to see. Why don’t we pray for that right now?

Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to be the Light of the World. Help us to let his light shine within us for all to see. Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!