Shine Your Light

Matthew 5:14-15

   ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

 

 Last Thursday we had the opportunity to be in a parade.  In case you didn't know, it is Rum River Days here in beautiful Princeton, Minnesota (55371...if you use MapQuest).

Our church had a simple float that has colorful blocks that have most of our ministries named.  The task we had was to walk along side the float and hand out candy and some eye-catching pamphlets which had our motto, "Connecting people to God and to each other for the glory of God!"  It had our website http://www.bethelprinceton.com and our email address bethelprinceton@gmail.com, and phone number 763.389.5715, all listed as well as the name of our Pastor (Calvin Friend) and the address of the church.  How is that for a Pastor's name?  Friend!  Can't think of a better one that that!

I have been walking a lot lately for health reasons and have been praying as I've been walking for every household I come across.  Sometimes you see people on the street...how much effort does it take to say a little silent prayer for them as you walk by?  And last Thursday was a perfect opportunity to pray for a LOT of people.  They were lining the streets all having a good time.  They had no idea I was praying..no idea that we all cared for them like we did.  It was a real blessing to be part of that.

So we walked alongside the float, handing out our candy and pamphlets and praying...trying to make connections with people.  Trying to shine our light so people knew who we were and that we weren't so bad a folk.  I think people got the idea.  I think they appreciated us.

Why deny yourself such a blessing?  Jesus tells us to shine our light!  To be a light and to be salt.  It does no good for the Kingdom if you do not engage the world and the people in the world.  None at all.  And what effort does it take?  Very little.

The next time you have an opportunity to shine your light or to be salt...to reflect the love of Jesus in a broken world, I hope you would.  These opportunities are all around us and we seldom take Jesus up on the challenge.  It's about time we did.

Blessings!

--El