Real LifeSample

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Rise and shine”? You may have heard it from your parents every morning of summer break when you were trying to sleep in as much as possible. Maybe it came from a well-meaning teacher or boss who was trying to get you to focus on the task in front of you. Maybe you just say it to yourself each day to get up and going. While both parts of the phrase can be challenging at times, it’s that second word, “shine,” that feels especially difficult. This is certainly true for those of us who have dedicated our lives to following Christ.

We’re called to not only rise but to shine the light of Jesus to the whole world. Not just when we feel like it, not just when we know it’s going to be well-received, not just when it’s easy. No, we’re called to shine our light all day, every day for all to see. Of course, doing that in our own power feels impossible. Not every day is going to be a great day, right? Instead of faking it through the times it’s hard to shine, we get to shine every day because God is always with us. God’s power is at work in us to shine His light to the world!

What is one thing you can put into practice this week to help you shine the light of Jesus Christ?