SHINE ON!!

SHINE ON!!!!

Light is a pretty powerful thing!!

For instance, say you and your family have been out all day, and you don’t get home until dark. You didn’t plan to be away for so long, so you didn’t leave any lights on not even outside. So you rummage around trying to find the key to open the door. Eventually you succeed and open the door to pitch black. So now, what is the first thing you would do?? Of course you would turn on firstly one light, and then another. The family charge inside. And if your kids are anything like our kids, soon just about every light in the house is on. The place is shining like a lighthouse.

So is it not true, that the more lights you turn on, the less darkness there is. DUH!!! Pretty obvious, eh?

 

Well, shouldn’t that be the same for us believers in this dark world? The more believers who have their lamps burning brightly, the less darkness we would have. So then, why should the darkness, and the powers of darkness scare us?

We read of Jesus:

“His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:4a-5, NLT)

So, we too must shine, but how then are we to do it? Paul explains it very well for us…

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” (Phil 2:14-16)

And Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you will reap if you do not lose heart. Therefore, as you have opportunity, do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

(YES!!  We are also our brother’s keeper.)

So, may I encourage you, that as the Lord blesses you and your ministry, that you be a blessing to others?  As He said to Abraham:

“I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.”

Please remember this:  We are channels for God’s grace; He doesn’t make us reservoirs.

And as Paul said to Timothy, so may I encourage you

“Don’t be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Do good … be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, and so store up for yourself a good foundation for the time to come, that you may hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim 6:17-19)

Also, be encouraged by this:

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” (Prov. 19:17)

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.” (Prov. 28:27)

We need to take what God said in Deuteronomy 15 to heart also:

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.  Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.  You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’”

Finally, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians:

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each onegive as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:6-8)

“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Mat 6:33)

May God bless you and may His love shine out of you to those around.  May the world be a better place because you are in it, shining for Jesus!!!

Jeanette Burton

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