Shine!

Philippians 2:14-15

The Message (MSG)

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns.

When we become Christ followers, His light begins to shine in us. Our journey of faith can make us shine even brighter as we become more like Christ in our actions and thoughts. It is that light that attracts people...that makes them want to have that some light in their lives. By sharing our light of Christ...we can affect a change in the lives of the people around us as well as the world in which we live. It is by this same light that our own paths are lit so that we may know the way to go. It is the Spirit within us that keeps the fire glowing.

Let me give an analogy of what happens when you open your life to the Spirit's flame...

"We begin with that closed door. It’s locked and bolted. Our life is dark. The shades are dawn to keep the light out. Then there is a knock on the door. But there is something familiar about that knock. We have heard it before.

So we decide to open the door just a little and in comes a breeze of the Holy Spirit. The fire place that has been cold and dark in the corner begins to glow a little. There is a little bit of light in the corner because of it. The light is warm and inviting so we open the door even more.

As we open the door the embers in the fire place of our heart becomes a blaze in the wind of the Spirit. Next thing you know you begin to open the blinds and are able to see outside. The next thing that happens is that you open the windows to let the breeze from outside come in filling your heart with the smell of Spring…the smell of love…the smell of grace. At this point there is no turning back. You love the feel of your “newly aired out home” and begin to warm yourself by the fire. That fire begins to change your heart and you yourself begin to glow with the love of God. You are on fire for God with an unquenchable flame. You become and open conduit… a means of expression…a channel…an instrument of the Holy Spirit touching the world around you."

How AWESOME IS THAT!!

SHINE ON!!!!!!