Light Bulb Moment

I am ever so grateful the"light bulb" went on for my brother Neal when he met Jill.  She is truly a light in her home and her sphere of influence. Here are more words for our Parakaleo Mom from my sister-in-law, Jill Bryant...

Ephesians 5:8 "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have Light from the Lord. So live as people of Light!" (NLT)

This weekend we were trying to explain to our 3 kids the importance of "letting our Lights shine."  That’s when it hit me and suddenly seemed SO obvious, like a light bulb moment in my head. I proceeded to explain it to them, all the while feeling convicted about it myself:

We can’t JUST be a “believer” of Jesus -- even Satan “believes” in Jesus!  We are to be FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ and we are called to let our lights SHINE to the world. But, we CANNOT be like light bulbs, where the light can be turned on & off, depending on WHERE we are or WHO we are with or WHAT we want to do! The Light of Christ is either ON in us - all of the time - because it cannot be hidden that He lives in us - OR we are not allowing ourselves to be truly & fully plugged into HIM, the only true Source.

Either God IS or God ISN’T. There is no in-between for a true follower of Christ. Either our light IS ON or it ISN’T a true Light. And if we try to live as if there is a compromise - like an on/off switch - we are sending the wrong light AND the wrong message to the world. It’s not right for a “follower” of Jesus to EVER turn off their light and use their "light-off" moment to show darkness or blatant disrespect to anyone via words or actions that do NOT represent Christ!

We cannot live like “on & off light bulbs” ANY longer! If we are going to be TRUE FOLLOWERS, we need to daily plug into the One and only Source for our Light - and shine His Light continuously - it can’t be hidden when He is alive in us!  Let’s have the faith of a child with His light in us and live it out just like the song says,

“Hide it under a bushel? NO!  I’m gonna let it shine!”

“Don’t let Satan blow it out! I’m gonna let it shine!”

“Let it shine till Jesus comes! I’m gonna let it shine!”

Our scripture verse is worth repeating, this time quoted in God’s Word translation:

“Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light.

Live as children who have light.”  Ephesians 5:8 (God’s Word)

Lord Jesus, help us all to be convicted by our “on & off light bulb” moments. Please change us from the inside out and help our Lights shine continuously and consistently because we can’t hide that You are alive in us!  Lord, we want You to be our only Source of Light. Empower us with your Holy Spirit to be a True Light to the world, one that brings You all of the glory!  We love You, Lord. Amen!