Bright and shiny light bulbs! What an invention the light bulb. Every time I need to see what is in the darkness I can flip that switch and that bulb shines brightly. Yet is that bulb actually shining? Nope, actually the bulb is just protecting the filament that has been carefully placed within the bulb that causes it to shine.

This is kind of like us as Christians. What is it that is within us that makes us shine?

Paul said in 2 Cor. 4:4-6, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus and the truth associated with Him is what empowers us to shine as lights in a cold and dark world (Matt. 5:14-16). People may think we’re pretty bright sometimes. (Jokingly, I used to tell people I am so bright that my daddy always called me son!) Others may even notice a light radiating from our life. However, on closer inspection it is Christ and the good news of salvation in Him that should be seen as the element within us creating the glow in our life.

Paul also said in 2 Cor. 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

Church, although we have this great light within us, just as that light bulb is very fragile, so are we. Still we can serve God’s intended purpose when our life contains what He desires to place within us. Jesus and His word within our lives, is the element that makes the difference enabling us to shine in cold and dark world.

May the element remain brightly glowing so that we can continue to shine in a way that directs others to our God. We shine for a very simple purpose; for His glory. Have a great day being empowered by the element of Christ within!

Jeff