Written by Jodie Smith
You Are a Light
You were born with a purpose, and that purpose is to do God's will. Purpose looks different for everyone, but the one thing we all have in common is that however our purpose manifests, we are to be a light in the world. In the book of Matthew in the Bible, Jesus refers to us as the “salt of the earth.” Upon researching the context of this statement, I discovered that during the time period in which the Bible was written, salt was used as a preservative for a variety of foods since refrigerators did not exist. Merriam-Webster defines a preservative as “an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage” and as “having the power of preserving.” It defines preserving as “to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction.”
You are supposed to save souls, and everything you need to do so already resides within you. God is the electricity, the Holy Spirit is the switch, and you are the bulb. To shine, you have to turn on the Spirit. The ability to shine is within everyone; you were born with it, but some never discover the light because they live in self and forget they are a spirit. You are a spiritual being brought into this human experience to birth life into a world that is dying daily. Your gift should bring good to the world and glory to God—that is how you preserve people. The world is in dire need, and you do not have time to play small. We serve a big God, and you have been blessed with the ability to walk into a room and light it up in spirit. Sugar may be sweet, but it is salt that saves. Stay connected to God and find ways to help people connect to Him as well.
Matthew 5:13-16 NLT “Jesus said, 13 ‘You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 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.’”
Ephesians 5:8 NKJV “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
How to Shine Your Light:
Find somewhere you can serve. Serving does not only have to take place in the church; you can serve in the community.
Be a positive voice in a negative world. Speak life into people and be encouraging to everyone you encounter.
Incorporate purpose into your profession. For example, if you are a teacher, start the day by having your students say a positive affirmation about themselves and one another.
Pray for those in need. We always have a reason to pray and it does not have to be something we make public. Pray silently for others as the spirit moves you to do so.
Be the church. Many people are looking for a safe haven; you can be that resource for them by being a welcoming, gracious, and kind person. The best way for people to find God is through the disciples who depict Him.
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