"Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."Jesus
What a challenge!
Speaking honestly, some days it feels like I shine out Jesus from every pore ... most days though it feels like I fail miserably.
That's been the theme of this weeks camp ... encouraging the young people to connect with God and then let their light shine for all to see.
Am sitting pondering that after speaking on it last night, and as I get ready to go back home again. As someone 'in ministry' (or hoping to be soon!) you're almost always expected to be close to God and shining. But sometimes that comes from a place of real emptiness I have to confess. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes it can feel more like an act than a genuine shining.
Was re-challenged myself as I talked last night about Jesus not only knowing your past, but knowing your future and the potential you have. Potential to make a difference in the world. Potential to enact change and tranformation. Potential to be different and be who God created you to be.
Alongside all this am reading Les Misérables in anticipation of seeing it in London next week (graduation present from my fiancé and celebration of our one year anniversary - how cool is that!). Though I love the music from it could only vaguely remember the actual story line, so reading it is really helpful. Can't get out my mind though the priest at the beginning. The way he lived his life shined light into the lives of others. He was generous, humble, kind, devoted, lived with integrity and spoke with honesty. All of this had an effect on the criminal Valjean as well as countless others. Not too far in yet, but can already see the ripple effect into the lives of others.
Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.
We did a really cool night walk the other night in the pitch black, in what felt like the middle of nowhere. It ended up with us getting to this big clearing where one of the leaders
light a candle and shared some thoughts on that verse in Matthew. Then there was an opportunity to respond by lighting a candle and placing it alongside, adding to the light, and asking God to help you to shine in the darkness. It was one of those holy moments ... totally silent ... people engaging with God ... no-one wanting to leave after. It was so simple and yet so profound as I placed my candle alongside the others. In the stillness of that moment I was asking God for boldness to proclaim Him, to shine, to bring light into darkness. That may be my 'calling' but I want it to come not from a sense of duty but from an overflow of who I am because of who I am through Christ. Because the question is what do people see when they look at me? Am I creating the kind of ripple effect that priest in Les Mis was? Do my 'good deeds' flow from a place of selfishness, where though it seems kind really I'm after the praise and recognition, or does it flow from a place of intimacy with my heavenly Father? I know which one I want it to be ... the challenge is for that to be the truth in my life ...
light a candle and shared some thoughts on that verse in Matthew. Then there was an opportunity to respond by lighting a candle and placing it alongside, adding to the light, and asking God to help you to shine in the darkness. It was one of those holy moments ... totally silent ... people engaging with God ... no-one wanting to leave after. It was so simple and yet so profound as I placed my candle alongside the others. In the stillness of that moment I was asking God for boldness to proclaim Him, to shine, to bring light into darkness. That may be my 'calling' but I want it to come not from a sense of duty but from an overflow of who I am because of who I am through Christ. Because the question is what do people see when they look at me? Am I creating the kind of ripple effect that priest in Les Mis was? Do my 'good deeds' flow from a place of selfishness, where though it seems kind really I'm after the praise and recognition, or does it flow from a place of intimacy with my heavenly Father? I know which one I want it to be ... the challenge is for that to be the truth in my life ... 
2 comments:
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Bless you. It's been a while since you've written, but know that your writings are rich with meaning to others in the world. And I'm sure they will for years to come.
Thank you.
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