Light Shine Bright ~ Toby Mac
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~ Matthew
5:16 NIV
In Wisconsin, especially in the winter, people take
notice when the sun shines. Even the girls have noticed how dark it is and
think it’s still time for bed, instead of for school. And for the next week,
the darkness may feel like it's growing, as we draw closer to the shortest
"day" of the year.
I remember growing up, hearing people talk about
"seasonal depression," which was attributed to the lack of sunlight
in the winter months. But until coming back from Florida, the "sunshine
state," I didn't realize how much not seeing the sun could affect you. The
same is true about the light you carry inside of you:
“...You’re here to be light,
bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re
going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you
light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand. Now…shine! Keep open house; be generous with
your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God,
this generous Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG).
As dark as winter is, I couldn't imagine living even the
brightest season without Christ. Last winter, I noticed how much darker,
colder, and longer winter felt about mid-January, because everyone had put away
their Christmas lights. People who don't know Jesus, or who've lost sight of
Him, walk around every day in darkness. They feel the cold of winter, but never
the warmth of Christmas – the season of welcoming and experiencing Jesus. This
year, don't let the generosity and love of Jesus stop shining in you, just
because you put away the tree. Let God's light always shine brightly through
you, for all to see.
©Heather Potts 2018
