This morning I had such an amazing God Prompting opportunity! God placed an un-churched friend in my path, whom I have known for quite a while, to ask me for help. Not for a handout, but for a hand-up. So I gave some suggestions and offered to help in several different ways and at the end God prompted me to invite him to church. He tells me he doesn't go to church but oh by the way his daughter goes on Thursday nights and we begin to discuss what Thursday night looks like and share names of people whom she knows. All good stuff.
Afterward, I considered the conversation and thought WOW what a small opportunity to do such a BIG THING!
I believe that we as Christians may sometimes forget the fear and uncertainty which can reign in the heart of one who doesn't follow Christ; how as we grow and search for our identity, we find ourselves simulating walking in the dark and searching for a light switch.
This led me to look up the comparison of light vs dark and I happened upon a couple of interesting facts:
1- Photosynthesis is the process which plants use to capture and store energy from the sun. This process takes the energy contained within light and converts it into chemical energy of bonds between atoms which power processes within cells. This is the reason that our atmosphere contains oxygen.
2- The body also needs light to effectively perform. The eyes process the light which objects reflect or give off which allows us to see. And the body itself needs sunlight specifically to produce vitamin D which has a multitude of benefits so we can function properly.
In comparison:
1- Most Plants which find themselves in the dark rarely survive. In fact, before dying they will slowly wither away before they finally give up.
2- The human body can survive without light; however a blind person must modify their lifestyle to accommodate the darkness and if a body does not get the right amount of vitamin D in the human body can create weakness, chronic pain, depression and fatigue even leading to cancer and diabetes.
So we can see the benefits of light in general to our world as we know it, now how does this relate to the Christian life?
Well Ephesians 5:8-14 tells us: 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Everything illuminated becomes a light . . . So just like plants capturing and storing energy eventually using this light from the sun we also have the ability to capture and store light from each other through Christ and be able to pass it on to others who live in darkness! WOW what an illuminating concept!
So what do we do with this? Well Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14 that "We are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." In 1 John 1:7 we are told that "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."
So we have the opportunity to live "in the light of Jesus" and are able to "transfer the light of Jesus" to others through our relationships, through our fruits; always remembering that the light doesn't come from us but through us as a gift from our Heavenly Father.
So for my friend who lives in a life of uncertainty and fear, what are the benefits of my asking him to Church? Well, He has the opportunity to hear the Word of God, to meet others who "Live in the Light" and to "Live in the Light" himself.
The benefits of Living in the light as we have found in 1 John 1:7 is that we have the opportunity to fellowship with one another (inspiring and encouraging one another) and we have the truth of Jesus' Blood cleansing our sin giving us the promise of Eternal Life which is the greatest gift of all!
So, one chance meeting, one God prompt, one act of obedience leads to a seed being planted for God to water and hopefully allow another to walk out of the darkness of fear and uncertainty and find The Light which comes from Jesus for himself to include the beauty which comes with it.
GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
Thank you Father for infusing me with Your Light. Please use me as a light to shine to others who may be in darkness so they also have the gracious opportunity to find eternity with You.
Your Obedient Daughter
