LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I love this scripture. Every time I read these verses I am reminded of who God has called me to be, not for my purpose but for His. So often I hide my light from the world and when I do, I can feel my countenance sink and my joy wane as I shrivel and shrink into my shell that makes me invisible to the world. By nature, I am not an outgoing person. In fact, given my natural tendencies, I am a very shy, insecure little mouse who is much more comfortable hiding in her hole in the wall where no one can see than I am stepping out to let my light shine. But the light that is within me is not of me, but of the Lord; Christ is my light. By hiding the light that is in me, I am hiding Christ from the world. My countenance and my joy sink when I hide my light because I am hiding Christ! Yes, Christ is my light, my joy, my peace, my strength. When I stop thinking and worrying about how others perceive me and just allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through me, others are drawn to that light; they want what I have. Though they may not know it at first, they want Jesus.

Often as Christians, we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us when we are around other like minded individuals…other Christians. Yet when we are among non-believers, when we are out in the world, we hide our light from those who need it most. Don’t get me wrong, our brothers and sisters need to see that light too, it just might be the encouragement that they need to press on. However, when do you need a flashlight or a candle most…when the electricity is out and you are surrounded by darkness or when the electricity is on and every light is on in the house? The world is filled with darkness and many have become so accustomed to that darkness in the world that they don’t know what it would be like to have light…the electricity isn’t out, they just don’t know what electricity is; they don’t realize they only need to flip a switch by asking Jesus into their heart. When we allow Christ’s light to shine through us, through our life, we are introducing the world to the possibilities that await them by walking with Jesus.

You and I are called by God to let the light that is Jesus Christ shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. We are the light of the world…it is time to stop hiding!

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What is the basket that you hide your light under?
  
• How will you remove that basket to reveal the light of Jesus Christ in you to the world?
  
• When will you do this?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

RIGHT AWAY, ALL THE WAY AND WITH A HAPPY HEART

Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10)

The word deceitfully in Jeremiah 48:10 is also translated as “negligently” in the NASB translation or “with slackness” in the ESV. This verse really caused me to pause and take notice of how I am doing the work the Lord has for me. I find that while I do step out in faith and I eventually do the work He has called me to, I don’t always do it right away. This reminds me of a little saying we have in our house, “Obey right away, all the way and with a happy heart.” I realize that while I eventually do as God commands, I don’t always do it right away, all the way and with a happy heart. In fact, many times I find I will hesitate or question and do things in my time not the Lord’s time; I compromise and do what I am willing to do but not the things I find challenging or unpleasant; and then when I finally give in to the Lord I do it not with a happy heart, joyfully, but kicking and screaming making sure to voice my displeasure. The question is, “Is this really obeying God?” Though it is hard to admit, I would say not.

We are all called by God for a purpose to do the work He has for us. This requires us to put Christ first in our life; above our wants and desires, above our children’s activities, above our daily tasks and chores, above our flesh. Yet, so often we give the Lord our leftovers…what is left of our time, our devotion, our energy; but He doesn’t want what is leftover, He wants all of you and all of me. Only then can we fully experience the life and the joy the Lord has for us. I want to experience God completely; in all His glory, all His wonder, all His righteousness, and all His love. How beautiful and glorious that would be and all it takes is for me to put the Lord where He desires to be, where He deserves to be…FIRST. How will you put the Lord first today?

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• Where do you put the Lord in your life? What do you give priority to over the Lord your God?
  
• What is the work the Lord is calling you to?
  
• What would it look like to obey God right away, all the way and with a happy heart?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Just the other day I was faced with a decision regarding a product for my business that comes with a hefty price tag. I knew that if God was not in this decision, if I did not seek Him, then most assuredly I would be making a foolish decision that could cost me greatly. So, I immediately took it to the Lord in prayer and while I awaited a response, I continued to research this product and get excited about the potential, the possibilities that this one product could bring. In fact, I got so excited that I almost clicked on the purchase button at least three times. What kept me from purchasing that product was my Bible; I kept seeing it there sitting on my desk. Every time I got a glimpse of that Bible, I got that check in my spirit to seek God’s will in God’s word. Yet, I found myself resisting, an unfortunate but common response for my rebellious self. I wanted this product; I wanted it bad and while I truly wanted to do God’s will in my heart, my flesh was not willing to wait to hear from the Lord. So, I continued to resist opening that Bible on my desk for fear that I might just hear God’s answer and it just might be “NO.” While I resisted, I found myself reasoning not with God, but myself. My flesh came up with some really great, logical reasons why I should purchase this product. I had pretty much convinced myself that I “needed” this product; I just had to figure out where the money was going to come from. This was going to require some thought.

The next morning, I had it all figured out; I knew exactly what I could do to finagle my finances to get what I had now convinced myself I needed and while I would be going further into debt, it would all pay off when I got the results promised. However, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to click that purchase button until that evening. In the meantime, I finally opened that Bible on my desk and the funny thing is…I already knew God’s answer even before I began to read His word; as if the scales from my eyes had been removed and my ears had been opened by simply opening the Bible. My “worst fear,” that answer that I was trying so desperately to avoid was confirmed in God’s word. I knew God’s will and I would not be finagling my finances that evening to buy that much “needed” product…the answer was “NO.” It ‘s weird, at that moment I stopped resisting and when I did, I found that peace that can only come from God; a true knowing of the direction and path the Lord intended for me.

When we rely on our own understanding, we are putting our faith and our trust in our flesh which is flawed and sinful by nature. The Lord, however, is not flawed and sinful, but good, righteous and sovereign. When we trust in Him, He will direct our paths perfectly. It’s true, we may not understand His reasons or His ways, but we can rest assured that His will is perfect and His path is straight.

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• In what area of your life are you putting your faith and trust in your flesh, leaning on your own understanding?
  
• What would it look like to trust in the LORD with all your heart, to acknowledge Him in all your ways?
  
• How will you put your trust in the One that perfectly directs your paths today?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

HE CALLS ME FRIEND

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:11-17)

I sometimes find it difficult to fully comprehend and appreciate God’s love for me. It is easier for me to wrap my head around God’s other attributes. For whatever reason, I am more comfortable with God’s justice, righteousness, holiness, jealousy, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience than I am His love. Yet, in reading John 15:11-17, I am struck by what Christ has done for me.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 11:13) I can watch a movie, a tale of fiction, where the hero of the film willingly sacrifices his life to save others and I find myself moved to tears because of his sacrifice. But I don’t know if I have ever allowed myself to fully drink in the sacrifice Christ made for me. Not only did He die for me, but He calls me friend! Really? I mean think about this for a second…if my favorite movie star knocked on my door today and we became fast friends, you better believe I would be telling people about it. And, if my movie star friend willingly gave his life for mine, I most certainly would be singing his praises. Isn’t that exactly what Christ has done? Christ, the SON OF GOD, has knocked on my door and asked me to follow Him, to be His friend and He willingly died for me that I might have eternal life! Yet, am I telling others; am I singing His praises to those who don’t yet know Him? It is easy to sing His praises to other brothers and sisters in Christ, but am I telling everyone I know about what He has done for me? Unfortunately, I am faced with the sad reality that I would more likely tell others about my movie star friend that saved my temporal life than the Lord, my God who saved me eternally. Wow, that stings!

I have heard the story of Christ’s sacrifice for me since I was a young child, but I don’t know that I have ever really allowed it to land. With the celebration of Easter or Resurrection Sunday fast approaching, I intend to fully submerge myself and meditate on Christ’s love for me and the sacrifice that He made for me because of that love. Maybe then I can begin to comprehend and appreciate the magnitude of His love. Maybe then, I will sing His praises to all I meet and not just to the saved.

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What does Christ’s sacrifice mean to you?
  
• What impact does this have on your life?
  
• How will you prepare for Easter or Resurrection Sunday?

Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.