“L.E.D. – Light Emitting Disciple”

Hello, October! Fall is in full swing…my craving for North GA fried apple pies has peaked…the Fall Classic is once again upon us…college football dominates conversations…and God is expecting His kids, that’s you and me by the way, to shine a little brighter this month and give the trick or treaters a few more lumens than lollypops.

Creation: Day 1. God set the tone for His plan. Genesis 1:4 ‘God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” God made it very clear that He wanted the light to be completely separate from darkness. His Son, Jesus Christ, the true Light of the World, said in John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”…a responsibility He passed on to us. (see Matthew 5:14-16)

In Ephesians 5, Paul tells all believers, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Now, I’m not saying that being the light of the world is easy. It’s tough! Why? Because to be the light that we have been called to be, we have to put ourselves out there…exposed…on display…in the middle of the arena…which is why we’ll often shy away from being the “light”.

It’s common knowledge that one of the things feared most by people is speaking in public. Well, except for crazy folks like me who feel perfectly at home and comfortable talking on a stage in front of a million people. However, when we are light, as God calls us to be light, we are to be “on a hill…put on a stand to give light to everyone in the house…to let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5). I hear the screams now…”NOOOOOO! Anything but that, God!”

Sorry folks. We are not called to be lampshade Christians. We are called to be super L.E.D.’s…shining for all to see.

In fact, three things are going to happen to you when you are the light God has called you to be.

1. People are going to look AT you.   Sorry. Get over it. Remember “ …the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self discipline.” People want to see how you live your life. If you are what you say you are. They want to see if you’re genuine. God wants people to look at us…His children. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Some of you may be saying…”Jeff, I just don’t think I shine that brightly.” Trust me. You shine brighter than you think. The thought that you don’t is a lie the devil wants you to believe because he knows what will happen once you allow the light of Christ to shine through you.
2. People are going to look TO you. When you bring light, truth, to people, to situations, to circumstances, people are going to look to you for guidance, direction, to show them the way. The light of Christ in us will be the flashlight for those walking in darkness.  Often people say, “Jeff, I’ve made so many mistakes, how can I lead anyone? How can I show anyone the way?” I understand where you are…been there…still there sometimes. Again…those are lies meant to discourage you and make you believe you have nothing to offer. God doesn’t allow anything to happen in our lives that He doesn’t intend for us to use to impact another life for His glory. Yes, that includes all of the mistakes…bad decisions…we’ve made throughout our lives. Remember, “God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
3. People are going to look FOR you. So many look for fulfillment in things of the world, possessions, power, in other people, and continue to end up unfulfilled. The more they search for fulfillment, the more fall. “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Proverbs 4:19. As followers of Christ, we emit a light, a joy, and a peace that people are looking for. While they may not think so or realize it…they’re looking. They recognize there’s something different about a follower of Christ…a child of light…and if we are genuine and real…if we lead people in light and in truth…people will seek us out to see if they can get what we have. How awesome is it that we can say with a resounding YES! You can have the peace…the joy…the light…His name is Jesus.

So…check your batteries…plug into His power…and be the light, the L.E.D., you have been called to be. Until next time, keep it real…and Armor Up.

View the actual article as published in Power Source Magazine HERE.

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