Philipians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world…”

It can be very hard to find any good in the world today. The news and social media keep us in closer contact with sin and corruption now that we have ever been throughout history. It’s easy to get angry, frustrated, or simply want to bury our heads in the sand. Unfortunately, we can’t just curl up in a ball and cry like we’d truly like to at times. We can’t throw our hands up in the air, but we also can’t let the circumstances of our nation overwhelm us and cause strife in our hearts.

So what can we do?

Simply put, we can shine.

We need to shine in this dark world, not only for our own sanity and peace of mind, but also for the hope of the future. While we wait patiently for Christ to call us home, we have no idea how long we will be here yet, so we have to make the best of what we have here for now. Our children and grandchildren will be reaping what we are sowing today, so it is important to remember the consequences that our actions, thoughts, and words will have. 

So in what ways can we shine and be a light in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation?

We can shine in how we treat others. Politics, moral issues, differences in opinions and values can make it hard to treat others with kindness and longsuffering. But it is one of the most shiny things we can ever do. It’s okay to have different opinions. Its even ok to not agree with or support the choices of those we love. But we can still show them love. Love does not mean always being in sync with those around us, but it does mean being kind and thoughtful toward them in spite of differences. Especially to those we love who are living in sinful choices, being loving to them in spite of disagreeing with them can be incredibly influential. In a world where emotions run hot and people are constantly criticizing one another, a little kindness goes a long way and can make one truly stand out from the crowd.

 
We can shine in our priorities. Let’s face it. We all have skewed priorities sometimes. We choose to watch tv or browse Facebook instead of reading Scripture. We choose to do something that makes it impossible for us to make it to church on time on Sunday mornings. We choose work over family and friends. We choose a lot of things that will never matter for eternity. Sometimes these things are unavoidable and that’s why we rejoice in grace. But how many times do we simply know better? The things we choose to prioritize in our lives speak boldly of what we value. Our priorities are important. Our lives are the biggest witness we have. So maybe we can ask ourselves, “How is what I am choosing to make important in my life showing Christ to someone else?”  How different would our lives be if that question reigned in our hearts?
We can shine in our attitude. Sometimes, daily life is pretty mundane and boring. Its easy to get sucked into monotony and develop a “this is as good as it gets” attitude. Maybe life just is what it is right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy in it. Yes, sometimes we all need a moment to cry and say, “Well, this is awful.” But after that moment is over, it’s our job to put on our big girl panties and do our best in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Imagine what an encouragement you can be to someone who may be going through something similar if only you can smile and say, “Yes, this is hard, but where can I find the joy in this? How can I shine through this? How can I be a light in this small darkness?” 

We can shine in our conduct. We can also stand out when we choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard regardless of what everyone else is doing. Just look throughout scripture…Daniel, Noah, and Esther are just a few examples of people who did the right thing even in the worst circumstances. When we choose to conduct ourselves with integrity, purity, honesty, virtue, and goodness in every area of our lives, we set ourselves apart. Furthermore, when we combine that with choosing to treat others with kindness and love, we end up being able to shine in a beautiful way which is not seen very often. 

As it says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” While it may seem that we are experiencing the worst time in history, it is important to remember that nothing is a surprise. The world has been falling apart since the beginning of time. But we have hope. We have peace. We have truth, and we have confidence in that truth, and people are searching for what we have. We can reach people with the light even in the darkest of places. What we choose for our lives can touch people even in the smallest ways. We can make a difference by choosing to shine brightly in our world.

2 Corinthians 4:11, 16-18  “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh…For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

{Written for the BBC Fall Ladies Fellowship}