Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Let It Shine

Remember singing these songs in church?  "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!"  "Go, tell it on the Mountain!  Over the hills and everywhere!"

And yet some of the same people who love singing these songs say "As for my relationship with God, well, that's personal."

What gives here?   Why the dissonance? 

Sure, I get it.  You're afraid.  You don't know how people will react.  You aren't sure of yourself.

Too bad.  Time to get over it!

You are called to be the light of the world.  You have the answers people are longing for.  You can point them in the only direction that matters.  You share everything else about your life, funny or embarrassing things that happened with you, what games you are playing, what you are doing with your job or hobbies.  Why is there a wall against the most important thing you could possibly share?  You have to break it down if you want to truly help people!


There's any number of reasons not to.  But the benefits of doing so are enormous.  I've found that telling people about what God has done in my life is one of the most rewarding things in this world.  Telling people the small miracles I've seen.  Sharing the story that God is unfolding in my life.  In fact, I had so much to say I had to start a blog!

Faith is such a big part of life.  If you share that part of yourself it really helps people to get to know you better.  Perhaps that's yet another reason not to share:  you don't want people to see that intimate part of you.  But how else are you going to get people to truly understand you?  How else can you show people why you have great peace, love, and joy in your life?  How else are people going to be able to see you as you truly are so they can help you as well? 

How are you going to be a light to the world?  Lift off the cover of selfishness (yes, it is pure selfishness) and acknowledge the one that shines through us.  It's the only way.