“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)
The beginning of a new year is a good time for us to reflect on what life has been like over the last year, to celebrate the innumerable mercies of God in our lives, and to continue to strive to shine the light and to give glory to our great Savior.
The question I have to ask myself is … What differences have I made in the lives of others and for Christ in the last year? Has the light of Christ shown through me to others?
It reminds me of a story I was told some years ago of a light house keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline in a lighthouse. He received his new supply of oil once a month to keep the light burning. Since he wasn’t far from shore, he frequently had guests. One night a woman from the village begged for some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another needed some to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and granted them all. Toward the end of the month he noticed that the supply of oil was very low. Soon, it was gone, and the beacon of light went out. That night several ships were wrecked and lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man was very repentant. Their reply was: “You were given oil for one purpose….To keep that light burning!”
In the darkness of the night, with waves crashing against and over so many people’s lives-waves of hopelessness and fear, waves of anxiety and depression…In the middle of the crest of the wave you can be that lighthouse- the vessel through which the light of Jesus can shine joy, hope, peace, acceptance, and love. The glimmer of light through the waves will give one more soul hope, one more soul another burst of energy to keep fighting for life… Will you have enough fuel to keep the lighthouse burning or are you frittering your time away pursuing trivial matters instead of allowing yourself to be filled with the oil, the fuel which is Jesus?
It takes time, it takes energy to be the light to those around us… God has called each one of us to be a light to someone…It may be to our family… To our friends… To our coworkers… to those in church… to those in school… To those we meet in prison…To those strangers we meet on the streets or in town…
My goal is to be the light of Jesus, to share the power of the cross regardless of the cost. I’ve seen so many lives changed and transformed in 2019 and so it is my desire to stand boldly for truth, for the gospel, and allow Jesus to shine brightly today, tomorrow, 2020 and beyond.
Looking forward to seeing more lives transformed by Jesus in 2020,
Mary

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