It is amazing as a parent how often the words with which we instruct our daughter come to reflect on my own actions.
As parents, we often tell Makenzie that pouting is not an appropriate response when things don’t go her way. Sadly, though, even at 42, it’s unfortunate how often I find myself doing much the same thing.
As Christians, we fall often into the mistaken mindset that if we simply live our “best life,” and be as good as we can, that life will be easy, and we will never face trial, hardship, or opposition. But the reality is, Jesus tells us that as believers, we are promised to face all of them. And we are to face them in a radical, and often counter-intuitive way.
Jesus said in Matthew, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16, ESV; emphasis mine)
In other words, it’s not about me. When I say I follow Jesus, my words and my actions are not simply a reflection of my own character. Instead, they speak to the world about who Jesus is in me.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul speaks of a full transformation in our lives that should come about when choose to follow Christ and allow Him into our hearts. When we understand the depth of love that it took for Jesus to take the punishment of the cross for our sakes, to reconcile us to God, that same love should reflect all the brighter to the world around us, a beacon in the darkness.
When we follow Jesus, we are, indeed, ambassadors, as Paul wrote (2 Cor. 5:20, ESV), and reflections of Him to a dark and troubled world.
And being that light means facing hardship and opposition the way he did.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:30-32, ESV)
As Jesus was being mocked, beaten and, finally, hung on a cross to die as an innocent man, at no point did he curse either his circumstances or his tormentors. Instead, he held fast to the Father, and saw his mission of love for us through, speaking words of forgiveness even to the end.
And how much less difficult are our daily circumstances than that which he walked through for us?
Instead of grumbling, Paul tells us to face our circumstances with joy always, (Phil. 4:4-5) and Solomon tells us to, “Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow springs of life.”
When life gets hard, sometimes light is difficult to find. But Christ’s love in us should produce such a light in hard times that the beacon is an unmistakable beacon to the world around us.
When the storm rages, let your light shine all the brighter.
Daniel Kiewel is a reporter for the Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune. He can be reached at dkiewel@gbtribune.com.
