Today’s Challenges: Bringer of the light

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Have you ever met one of those people who as they say, “lights up the room when they come in”? I hope you have, because I have and it gives hope to life.

Where I work I have a friend named Anthony, he is one of those people. It may not be a coincidence, but I find it interesting that he works in the Lighting/ Electrical department. He helps bring light into people’s lives physically, but also spiritually. Anthony is a lover of God and is not afraid to share his relationship with the father with others. He is one of those folks I look for when I’m at work, because he makes work seem… well, less like work, he brings a little light into my life, a little hope when I see God working in him.

Of course the example for us all is Jesus Christ, our God; our Brother; our friend and our support. I love the description that the Apostle John gives of Jesus in the book of John. In John 1:1-5 we read, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (NLT)

There is our example, the true bringer of the light! We sometimes sing a hymn that says, “Oh to be like thee, blessed redeemer,” but I wonder if we really understand the full impact of those words, of what he was and what he did. John goes on and says, “The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.” (John 1: 9-11)

You see what this says is that if you try to live as a Christian and bring light to others; don’t expect them to always thank you. They rejected Jesus, they will often reject you.

I don’t know about you, but I pray that I can be a little more like Anthony to those around me, but even more I pray that I can let the light of Christ be seen in me. There is no such thing as a secret Christian, you either are or you aren’t. Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world… like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”

When is the last time someone was glad to see you coming? Could it be you need to let the light of Jesus be seen more in your life?

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By Russ Lawson

Today’s Challenges

Russ Lawson is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with his column Today’s Challenges. He is semi-retired and an elder at the Mid-County Church of Christ. He can be reached at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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