Shine Bright!

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

Earlier this week I was talking to my dear friend Joanna about a troubling situation, she said something has stayed on mind all week. Something to the effect of "those in darkness run from the light". That brought clarity to me about the situation I was dealing with and gave me something to think about.

This morning I woke up thinking about being a light for Christ and what all it means. It means that people will think you're weird and different and they will make fun of you. They will try to find ways to upset, hurt and be mean to you. Because they don't like the light. At church this morning we heard a great message talking about the same thing. When you follow Jesus the world will hate you. You may even be persecuted. The dark world hates the light of Christ.

The closer you draw to the Lord, the brighter your light will shine and the brighter you shine for Him the more the world will hate you. Expect it. Pastor Aaron used an analogy that Mark uses with his football players. Mark always tells the guys "don't worry about it when I'm getting on your case (in practice), worry when I don't because I don't waste my time on those who don't play". Pastor Aaron said almost the same thing but in the spiritual sense "don't be upset when the world persecutes (that means you are doing something for the Lord) but worry when they think you're normal".

I have found that the more I seek the Lord and the more I depend on Him during this trial the brighter my light shines for Him. There will those who run and hide from the light because the darkness hates the light. But you never know, they may just come to know the Lord because of your light.

So Shine Bright!