Show The World Your Light
“You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” -- Matthew 4:14-16
He didn’t need any help. He could drive himself. He could cook. He could take care of his wife. Except his pain was so intense that he broke out in a sweat and his body hunched over. And his wife could barely maneuver with her injured leg and hand.
He didn’t understand. We all wanted to help. It wasn’t about obligation. It was about love and kindness and caring. It was about wanting to do something for people who needed help. It was about knowing they would do the same if the situation was reversed.
The Deep South is known for taking food on every occasion. We take food when someone is sick or injured. We take food when a baby is born or when a loved one goes home. We take food to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Sometimes we take food to the church and sometimes to the home. But we always take food.
A friend once explained that whether someone is hurting or celebrating, we want to do something. Taking food is that something. We don’t know what else to do. It’s how we were raised. It’s what we do.
Not that we don’t show up at other times. Put out the call and someone will respond. My cousin recently built a ramp at the home of a friend who is dying. A youth group did yard work at a deployed soldier’s home. A pastor stayed in the emergency room with someone who never attends church because she didn’t want him to be there alone.
We show up because we can. We show up because deep inside the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus always shows up when someone is in need. And, yes, when someone is celebrating too. We are His church, His body, His representatives on this earth. Whether we talk about it or not, we know.
A friend said recently that she’d chosen her church because of the caring people. She looked around and saw love and kindness and compassion. Not just for those who were longtime members but for everyone. That matters. It’s what the world sees when we go out and do the tasks that Jesus calls us to do.
So we take food and drive people to doctor appointments. We mow the lawn and scrub the tub. We show people that Jesus’ light still shines in a world that sometimes seems so incredibly dark. We remind those who doubt that Jesus lives in us, giving hope to all people. They see Him in us every time we do something for someone else just because we can
No comments:
Post a Comment