Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
After studying and reading from an online Bible study I was thinking about being filled with the Spirit or God’s light. Now I’m not just talking about when we feel like singing, dancing and shouting but, maybe just filled with a good sermon or worship song from a Sunday morning church service. We felt like we’ve learned something or were blessed by seeing something differently….then what do we do with it? I know for myself personally, while I try to walk in God’s light and love daily, I don’t know that I spread it around like I should. I get filled up in Sunday worship and maybe a weekday service then it’s almost like I sit on it. Yes, it may change some of the things I do, think or feel, but I think a lot of the time that may just be the extent of it.
I’ve noticed that I am pretty good and content with sharing what I believe and God’s word with my own little close knit family and friends but, don’t usually go much further beyond that. Yes I do write on my blog but, I think here I almost feel like I can’t be SEEN so it’s kinda like a safe place for me. This tells me that part of my not stepping out and sharing the light that God has placed in me is out of fear…possible a fear of face to face and just feeling like I wouldn’t say or do the right thing. Coming to this understanding I really want to change this.
Just like this scripture says….God doesn’t fill us with His light for us to sit on it. We need to step up and out of our fear and onto our faith. God gives to and blesses us so that we will give back to Him; and we give back to Him by sharing His word and our gifts with others. I’ll be the first to say that I understand how hard this can be sometimes. We may fear looking silly or that what we have to offer isn’t anything worthwhile, but the Holy Spirit blesses each one of us with our own special gifts and personalities; ones that are fit just for our purpose in life. God didn’t make us to all be alike, unlike we sometimes think by trying to be what we see, but instead He wants us to be different because we all play a very important role in the body of Christ just by being us!
This past Tuesday, I will admit with much anxiety and fear of feeling out of place, I attended a prayer meeting at church and it was a wonderful experience. I believe that one of my gifts is intercessory prayer and while I use it often for my family, friends and things that come up I don’t exactly push it out further as I feel God wants me to. While there, I felt like it wasn’t just about me and mine…and in fact for the most part, I left that at the door. I was there to use the gift that God blessed me with to join with church family and lift up prayers for others and their needs. I truly plan to become a regular with this ministry…I am blessed and I am called to be a blessing.
Maybe it is in a ministry at our church, something at our child’s school or a part of something in our community; I believe with my whole heart that God calls us to shine our light. God does not fill and bless us just sit on it…that’s selfish and does nothing for His kingdom. Instead we are filled that we might share it with those we come in contact with…our journey and testimony isn’t just for our growth, but to help and encourage someone else along the way.
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