We, as Christians, are the light of the world - filled with Christ and spreading His light and truth in the darkness. (Sound familiar? You're probably thinking "Didn't she JUST write about this in the last post? - Yes and no, just work with me here :)
In my last post, a passing comment I made got me thinking late into the night last night, and after losing a few hours sleep, "Voila!" A new post! I was mulling over the idea of shining brightly in the darkness, and I realized: it seems as though some Christians shine brighter than others - and in a way, it's true.
You see, brothers and sisters, how brightly we shine in this dark world depends not on personality, or speaking ability, but on how completely we imitate Christ. Picture a human body - as we become more like Christ, dying to self, pieces of us "fall off," and Christ in us shines through more radiantly. Perhaps a better metaphor is in order.
Imagine a window, painted over. If you paint a window black, very little light from inside will be visible outside. Sure, there will be a faint glow, but not enough to pierce the darkness. But if you were to slowly chip away that paint, light begins pouring out the window, making the contrast more pronounced. So it is with Christians. As we die to self: give up the desire to fit in, to keep up with today's so-called "intellectualism," to have power, or whatever it is that keeps us attached to the world rather than to Christ, we stand in greater contrast to this dark world. And this is as it should be. We do not belong to the world - Christ has called us out of it! The world will not love us as it's own, because we do not belong to the world. If you fit in well on this earth, something is wrong! As pieces of self are chipped away as God works in us "to will and to act according to His good purpose," more of Christ, who is our life, shines through. Quite simply: He increases, we decrease (John 3:30).
When the world looks at me, I don't want them to see Kcenia's desires, Kcenia's dreams, Kcenia's ambitions, I want them to see Christ, and His profound work in my life. I want them to see He is above all, my complete satisfaction, and all the other things in my life are blessings that He has given to cause my cup to overflow! I want my life be not about fame, popularity, money, or things, but about Christ! I don't just want to be a lamp, I want to be a beacon! Because I'm human, because I am so prone to failure, the only way this will come about, the only way I can become more like Christ, is if I constantly ask for His help in letting go of the things of this world. Lord, purify me; I want more of You, less of me.
"Holy fire, burn away
my desire for anything
That is not of You
but is of me.
I want more of You
And less of me."
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