This time last year I was preparing to go home for Christmas. At the time, my heart was beginning to ache for the world more and more. This world is submerged in darkness. In the middle of a season, Christmas, when we celebrate blessings and gifts, God laid heavy on my heart those who have nothing. I cried out with all my heart “Father what would you have me do!? What do I do?”
The response was simple:
“Go to them. Be with them. Sit with them. Eat with them, Talk, Pray, Dance, Sing, Live with them. Just as I went you also Go. Share with them what you have. Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Follow me, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Now, a year later it’s Christmas season once again and here I am. I’m in the heart of the world. No Christmas lights, or at the least very few, No Holiday sales, No Christmas cookies (not yet), and sadly No Christmas snow (also not yet, I’m still praying). I’m in the Middle East. I’m walking lands Christ Himself walked. I’m meeting people I never thought I would meet. When you read about Syria, Israel, and the East on the news… that’s where I am and there’s nowhere I would rather be.
This month I’ve played with children who have fled war torn homes. I’ve sat with fathers who have lost much in protecting their families. I’ve drank coffee and tea with Syrian refugees who look for hope, often where there is none. I’ve been blessed to serve with a pastor who faces persecution daily, is threatened, and yet continually, boldly, preaches the gospel and loves the people around him.
The world is broken.
Everyone knows it. Turn on the news. But that’s not what I’m here to tell you. I’m here to tell you that in darkness, there is light.
There is Light.
That light is you and me. That light is the hope we carry in Christ. He came, He came as a child. He gave up every comfort known to man for the sake of Love. He is the light of the world. And, listen carefully, HE SHINES BRIGHTLY.
Let there be Light.
Throughout all the Bible, through all of History He has shined brightly. Like the sun we will shine. Isaiah 58 puts it this way…
If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday sun.
There is no light brighter than the NOONDAY SUN.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37: 5-6
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Matthew 13:43
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
Daniel 12:3
You are the Light of the world. A city on a hill CANNOT be hidden
Matthew 5:14
The noonday Sun. That is how we shine. You CANNOT hide it. Too often I think we settle for a small light. A small glimmer of hope just barely piercing the darkness. But here, in darkness, I know in my heart that with every step I take, every small show of love that we make, the darkness is pierced not by a small shimmering light but by the full force of our Saviors love. We can shine brightly.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5
My heart aches. It’s hard to see the suffering in the world. Sometimes love hurts. It’s not going to be all clean and comfy. People don’t always welcome you. But through it all, I’m learning HOPE. There is hope. We need to share it.
It’s easy to say this little light of mine. But the truth is, it’s not a little light. It’s a Big Freaking Light and it’s not my light. I have the Spirit of the Living God inside of me. And HE SHINES BRIGHTLY.
It’s dark yeah… but I got a pretty big flashlight.
So, in this season I want to encourage you with one thing… we have a great light. Jesus is the light of the world. He came as a humble babe to darkness. Herod had thousands of two-year-old baby boys murdered because of him. It was a dark place then, it’s a dark place now. But in the midst, shines the Son.
He loves us!
It’s that easy!
Love them, sit with them, be with them, eat with them, fight for them, give them what you have. It doesn’t have to be money, it can be your time or as simple as a smile to a neighbor. If we aren’t sharing that light, then what are we here for?
Volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, reach out to a friend, invite someone over for Christmas, hold the door open and smile, call that person you haven’t talked to in a long time. Together, when we do these things, when we Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God we shine…. like the Sun.
It’s amazing how many times I’ve heard from the Syrians how much they love the schools we are working with. Their kids are happy and joyful they say. Their hearts are filled with thankfulness. Why? They say it’s because the Christian schools have love. The Syrians can see it. Everyone sees the difference. It’s obvious the difference that love makes. It lights people up. It brings them life. Love genuinely cares.
Go! Spread life! To each other, to everyone around you. Spread some Christmas Love. Shine like the Son!
Deep breathe.
Love people.
Share the hope of Jesus
Go to the needing around you
Live it out
This little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine
Hide it under a basket No
(Do it, try and hide the SUN under a basket)
I’m going to let it shine
Don’t let Satan blow it out!
(Haha, I dare you. Blow the SUN out. Go on, I’ll pay you a million dollars if you can blow the sun out)
I’m going to let it shine
Let it shine till Jesus comes
I’m going to let it shine
Will you let it shine?
Shine Like the Son
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
