Shine Like Lights in the World

~~~ Philippians 2: 12-18 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ Luke 14: 25-33 ~~~

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 

The light of the Lord continues to shine forth today

because we have accepted the challenge.

The light of the Lord continues to be bright because

we have accepted the invitation.

We must be committed to keep the flame burning.

If we lose focus or turn away from tending to this light;

we will become contributors to the darkness.

 

"...My beloved, obedient as you have always been,
not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent..."

 

God is not dead, as some might want you to believe.

Though we may struggle to see him present among us, we must still

maintain his light of love.

We must be the flickering light in the darkness.

We must believe that God has a bigger plan than we can see,

even with our light shining brightly.

 

Now more than ever it is time for us to be the hope of the world.

It is time for us to believe in the Light of the World.

 

"...shine like lights in the world..."

We know how to tap into the source of all light.

The Lord is our strength and the source of our light.

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 

 

 

"...Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple."

 

The only way we can continue to shine our light in the world today is

to also be willing to take up our cross.

Following Jesus requires you to carry your lamp in one hand

even as you struggle to carry the weight of your cross.

 

Without the cross what is the point of keeping the light glowing?

Without the cross, where are we going?

 

Plan...seek peace...denounce possessions...

taken from Luke's gospel today.

 

This is not a formula for doom and gloom

but rather one of complete trust and hope in the Lord.

We are in a period when we must truly walk by faith.

We are prevented from seeing, even with our light,

 what plans he has in store for us.

 

May God continue to guide us and

bless us each and every day.

May God give us the conviction necessary

 to burn brightly

in a world of increasing darkness.

You are the Light of the World...

Are you up to the task?

I pray that we are.