You’re a Star!

2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world...

The Greek word here translated "lights" is not just the generic word for lights. It is a word which means li ghts in the night sky, in other words: heavenly bodies, and especially stars. Just as stars shine in the darkness, so Christians are supposed to shine in the dark perverse world. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck–measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." ( Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)

By and large it seems to me that Christians are not winning the world. And I don’t believe we are going to win the world the way we are going. Something’s got to happen to us.

The secret is the Holy Spirit. He is the One that makes a man’s face shine with the joy of Christ. He is the One who moves a man to think of others instead of himself. He is the One who gives boldness to people who are timid by nature. He is the One who helps us realize how wonderful Christ is. He’s the one who can remove our lust for the world’s approval. He is the One who can overpower our sin. He is the One who can make the light of Christ shine through our lives.

Look at Peter and the others before and after Pentecost. They went from timidity and fear to great boldness and courage. What made the difference? Acts 1:8 tells us: “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (NASB)

O great God of heaven, visit the lives of Your people with the mighty power of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to know the incomparably great power which is for us who believe. Please make our lives completely unexplainable apart from the fact that we are Your handiwork! Illumine our lives with the light of Christ, that in the midst of this dark and corrupt world men might see the light of Christ sparkling and glistening in the lives of Your beloved ones.