Throughout each believer's life, God gives the opportunity to experience being both the candle and the mirror that reflects it.
Before we can spread light, we must first have the Light.
Next the Light must be our Guide.
Then we must point others to the Light within us.
We must ask the Lord to help us love -- to be so heartbroken if any of our family, friends, co-workers, or acquaintances do not know Him -- that we are compelled to share the Light within us.
Time alone with the Light through prayer and studying His word daily is the only way to become that intensely aware of His Light within us.
God has chosen every believing woman to carry His message to her sphere of influence as she is filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and anointed and equipped with His power.Yes, But How?
"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me..." Acts 1:8
Going does not necessarily mean leaving home and family, but it does mean making yourself totally available to serve wherever, whenever, and however He directs.
~Evangelism, Women's Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Before we can spread light, we must first have the Light.
"The Lord is my Light and my salvation." Psalm 27:1
Next the Light must be our Guide.
"Come and let us walk in the Light of the LORD." Isaiah 2:5
Then we must point others to the Light within us.
"Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16Finally, we must help them desire the Light for themselves.
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light." 1 Peter 2:9Again, How?
We must ask the Lord to help us love -- to be so heartbroken if any of our family, friends, co-workers, or acquaintances do not know Him -- that we are compelled to share the Light within us.
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:6Practically speaking, spreading the Light as the candle is directly witnessing to others through our words and observed actions. Spreading the Light as the mirror reflecting it is more a lifestyle decision: we must be so aware of the Light within us that every action... even when we are not being observed... is lived for His glory so that our whole life points to Him.
Time alone with the Light through prayer and studying His word daily is the only way to become that intensely aware of His Light within us.
Bonnie is hosting In Other Words at her site Ink It Blog. If you want to participate, write a blog about the quote in the box below on your site then click on the link to Bonnie's blog and leave your URL in the Mr. Linky box. You will also find links for the other participants' blogs.
10 comments:
Thank you for the verses you shared. I had another thought when reading your blog: The light of Jesus illuminates my path, and my light (which is given to me by Jesus) illuminates the path TO Jesus. In essence, one path, but some who are off the path need to see it and God can use us to guide them to it - until they have their own light to illuminate the way.
But then of course, we can also benefit from the light that others have in Jesus because we don't ALWAYS walk in the light (just being honest with myself).
Thanks for sharing. :)
This is exactly why I enjoy IOW so much. Each participant is gifted to share their perspective and provide a way for those who read the posts and comments to grow in Him.
Thank you for sharing.
Typing One-Handed
Patricia,
I loved how you composed this post...I too took a similar approach to the LIGHT....What a wonderful post here girl!
I'm leaving blessed!
peace,'lori
Awesome post. It is so true that we must spend time with and in the light in order to reflect it to others. Thank you for sharing.
Great post Patricia with some good practical advice on how to be the light to others! thanks for sharing today.
Bonnie
I like how you laid that out in steps for people to take or look at. The first thing we need is the Light, the light of Jesus. You just made me think of the thought I was going to write on about going solar. We need to be so charged up with Jesus when the darkness comes we still glow.
I so love the different avenues we all take on IOW. I love they way you laid out the verses. No way to argue them! God's Word is God's Word.
While I went an entirely different way on today's quote, I totally embrace the idea that you bring out: That being the LIGHT is by our direct witnessing. While being a MIRROR is more about reflecting HIM through our lifestyle... even when no one is looking. We are both the light and the mirror.
Our WHOLE life points to HIM.
TRUE! And the intensity of our light depends on how much time we spend with the LIGHT.
THANKS for your unique thougts!
-es.
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
I like the Edith Wharton quote and what you made of it....probably much more than what she initially intended.
"We must be so aware of the Light within us that every action...even when we are not being observed...is lived for HIs glory." Fabulous reminder! It's like my favorite definition of ethics - doing alone what you'd do if others were watching. Thanks!
AVA <><
Such a lovely post, bless you.
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