How Can I Make a Difference in the World?Sample

Giving Light To Everyone..

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matt ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thanks for coming back today. Let’s focus on verse 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.”

A light is meant to shine. And while all different lights may have a different brightness, the worst thing to do is to cover up a light that has been turned on.

When I first surrendered my life to Jesus, something changed on the inside. It was difficult to articulate it back then but now I know it was the love and grace and forgiveness of God that I was experiencing. God is light, and His light was filling my life.

The challenge for me was that people around me still knew and saw the old me. I still knew the old me. It was like there were two versions of me but nobody could see the new me. Maybe my light had a dimmer and I didn’t know how to turn it up yet?

I thought my job was now to tell everyone that I had found the light and that the light was Jesus and this is why I’m shining so brightly. But people kept reminding me of my mistakes and unformed life (or newly forming life), which seemed to create friction for me and the relationships around me.

The best thing I could have done was just be real and genuine and authentic about my journey into friendship with God.

The good news is not that I am saved, but that it is God who saves people. It’s not to announce that I am now a Christian, but to declare that God loves all people and desires to come close to us - no matter how far we feel we have wandered. It’s not to say that I am different now and can’t associate with you but with compassion, know we are all the same - broken, lost and in search of the One who has been looking for us our entire lives.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I can so easily get focused on myself. It’s easy to think too much about me and not enough about others. Please fill my heart with Your love for people. Help me to be real, to own my mistakes and be more authentic in my relationship with You. I want people to see that following You is really the best way to live. Amen.

Discussion Question:

How can I adjust my attitude and expectations of others in a way that points people to Jesus?