"Oooh, the lights are so pretty," my daughter Kaiah said, with her eyes all aglow--partially from the white lights on our Christmas tree and partly from the excitement of the holiday season. Every year, my husband and I, and the kids work together to put the tree up and decorate it. It's one of our many fun traditions. Usually, it's a psychedelic mess! (Put together with love, of course) But, this year, we decided to stick with a red and gold theme and it turned out well... for the first time ever I think.
Typically, my sisters come over my house and double over in laughter looking at our tree. You see, Kenya and I tend to let the kids have fun with it and do what looks beautiful to them. This Christmas, however, we made our tree look a bit more "respectable" I guess you could say. So, after the "new and improved" tree was finished, all the kids just stood around, gazing at the soft white lights.
I must admit, I love them too.
There's something about the gentle glare that adds a nice touch of warmth and serenity to our home's atmosphere.
Well, as I sat down last night, relaxing and staring at the tiny bulbs illuminating the darkness, I thought about how we, as believers, ought have our "lights" shining at all times, so others can see our good works and glorify our Father which is heaven. (Matthew 5:16) The character of Christ ought be clearly visible to others, adding the same warmth and serenity to every place we inhabit.
Non-believers may not be able to quite "put a finger on it," but they should notice something unique and special about us. They should be drawn to the light on the inside of us, that shows up on the outside. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (KJV)
I wonder; if others were asked about your behavior at home, work, church, school, or whatever places you frequent with any regularity... what would they say? Would they see the light and love of Christ shining through you? Or would they say things like: Her attitude is terrible. She's always gossiping and talking about other people. She'll smile in your face and stab you in the back. She uses foul language when she gets upset. What?!? I didn't know SHE was saved!
Or, would they say: There's something different about that woman. She's always so humble, nice and sweet. She's one of the most generous and down to earth people I know. She's always smiling. I've never heard her say a bad word about anyone. I figured she was a Christian...
While it's never a good idea to place too much stock in what people say, you want to at least make sure that, if they do say something negative, it isn't true. We all must strive to live lives that are consistent with the principles of the gospel we claim to live by. We have to be a light and an example to others in this dying world, because, for some people, you're the only "Bible" they'll ever read. They'll look at your life and either one of two things will happen:
1. They'll be attracted and drawn to the light inside of you.
2. They'll be turned off and repelled by the darkness within you.
Today, my prayer is that we would all be mindful of what we're emitting and giving off. People are watching our lives... on good days and bad ones. We've got to let our light shine everyday.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
