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"This Little Light of Mine..": Feeling Small and Inadequate?


Often many brothers and sisters in Christ are convinced that they need to do a mammoth work for the Almighty. They believe that God wants us to create gigantic project, program, and performance to share the Light of Christ with all creation. In reality however, Jesus moves through us in simple and sometimes small ways. Ever heard that song "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." It was nursery song teaching about sharing Christ who is the Light of mankind (John 1:3) like a little lamp or light. Megachurches have contributed to this idea that we must build a giant temple and fill it with converts. The concept that there are small, tangible, and even uniquely you ways in which you can share Yeshua, Jesus with people is often eclipsed by the empathic need to make a big noise. Interestingly Jesus often told people to keep his identity and what he did a secret, "Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." (Matthew 8:4). Why did Jesus say this? Several answers have been put forth. One is He knew the religious leaders wanted to kill Him and it was not His time (), second He wanted to avoid the leech effect, when people become moochers rather than seekers of message (see John 6), and finally miracles were not why He came, "Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”  But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come." (Mat 1:36-38).

Do not mistake me, God does move in big ways, the Parting of Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), tearing Veil in Temple (Matthew 27:51), Dying on Cross (John 19), Raising From Dead (Luke 24), and more. But as Christians we so often think that we must perpetually be moving in these massive performances of God's power, when often the light we can shine is short message, a word, a smile, a comforting touch on the shoulder, and praying for people. There is an obsession is the grand and gigantic programs of churches, and a goal to fill stadiums like Billy Graham did during his Crusades. While this is admirable, and if Christ has called you to it, then so be it! But expecting every follower of Emmanuel to do this is not only unrealistic, but against even their calling in Christ! Some of us are megaphones, some of us xylophones. Some of us are blazing pyres that light up the sky, others candles that keep burning in rooms full of family and friends. Some of us have parts of our lives when we are blazing building that lights up the dark, and at other times in our life we are candles. Some of us naturally have public ability to preach the Gospel to massive crowds, others it is one on one conversation about Christ, and some do both.

The point is when you live for Jesus Christ, and love the Lord with all your heart (Matthew 22:36-38) the light will shine. I believe that we should all preach the Gospel, and I refuse Francis of Assisi suggestion, "preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words." We live in world that doesn't take subtitles so well, and so we must be bold and open our mouths and speak of Jesus our Savior. We all live by the Great Commission to, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 29:19). Interestingly, making disciples does not mean just evangelize, it means to teach, build up, and help make a teacher and preacher out of the new convert, like a candle of light, it means to keep the fire going and so that the person can pass that fire of the Holy Spirit and light of Jesus Christ to others. Discipleship is often a missing link in churches today because most institutional churches are less family and more function, more facility and program based. Another reason is memories of cults like "The Shepherding Movement" make people cringe at the word "discipleship" because in their case it was men lording over them and controlling them to point of which toothbrush they could pick, who they could marry, and if they could leave town. Sadly the devil has distorted discipleship to people, making them think it is being enmeshed in the control of their leaders rather than equipped to be leaders like the Lord Jesus desired (Matt 29:19).

Do not become disillusioned or dismayed. If you feel your light is little, remember it still shines and while it may not be bonfire right now or ever, it can be one more in dark, and if a bunch of little lights join together, the darkness flees. So do not give up, but be a light for Jesus Christ in these dark times. Do not worry about how little you feel, you mean big to God, for He died for you: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

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