Over the past few years my good friend Mike Daigle has come up with some neat jingles for the new years like… “It’s your time to shine in 2009”, or “Don’t be a hen in 2010” and “Look to Heaven in 2011″… so I have one for this year………… these all are references to our walk with Christ. So for this next one keep in mind how we need to hold ourselves in this upcoming year and the years after….. “Let Jesus be seen in 2016!” If you have that personal relationship with Jesus let Him be seen through your actions each day!
That is my message for this year not only for me but to all Christians, who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and feel an urgency in the air that we need to step up and show our world who God really is by our actions.
God’s Word says in Matthew 5: 14-16 in the NLT:
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
We must remember, right now, today, in this world, people are searching for lights; lights that will shine hope into their lives, their homes, their financial situations, their families, communities, towns, cities, states and so forth. Don’t look to the left or to the right for these lights to start shining, try stepping up to a mirror and telling yourself that “I am a light, the light of Christ shines in me and I can make a difference in someone’s life starting now right here, today!” The world needs us and for some reason things are getting more urgent in our world, as doom and gloom continues to creep in, our lights need to be brighter than ever before in a darkening world.
How do we do this? We must start by keeping things simple, it doesn’t matter what you have in your wallet or purse because showing the love of Christ is free. It’s spending time with someone who is sick, visiting the elderly, helping youth, feeding someone who is hungry, clothing the naked, sharing the Gospel and even stopping to say hi to someone who is lonely, these simple kind gestures can turn a person’s day into a blessing. Show someone that they are appreciated, treat others in a way that you would want to be treated and then go above that.
If 100 Christians in one small town imitated Christ for one day in public by doing some of these simple things it would start showing people who He (Jesus Christ) really is and why He is worth getting to know. Go out of your way to make people scratch their heads and say, “Why are they so nice? Why did they do that for me? Who does that for free? No one ever cared about me like that before?” There are so many ways we can turn this world upside down, we just need to start.
Have some ideas, comments, or questions? Send me a message anytime (slewis003@maine.rr.com); it’s time for Jesus to be seen in 2016….. How is this going to happen? Through You and me, so let’s get started today; love you and God Bless You and Yours!
