Light up

“All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.” Romans 16:27
We all carry a flashlight in our hands. Some of people use it to point at ourselves, lighting themselves up for those around to see how great they are. Some choose to point them at a band or sports team, putting our entire focus on them. I want to let my light be used to put the spotlight firmly on Christ and Christ alone.
We have a choice in our life with regards who and what we make much of. Many people chose to make much of their favourite football team, the cute lead singer of the latest hit band or the newest video game. Some people spend their days obsessing over the latest mobile phones, making sure they know all about the newest features and being sure they can tell others why their model is far superior to all others. Some spend their life craving the next achievement so they will look all the more impressive on their next job application. Some put all their effort into working out so they will be ripped and she will take notice. Some put lots of thought into coming up with a clever Facebook status that will show off how great they are. Some people feel their day is only complete if they have read the latest gossip on their favourite celebrities or if they have caught up with all the “reality” TV. And a lot of the time these things become false gods, distracting us from the One true God, maker of heaven and earth. 

In Joshua 24:15 Joshua gives this choice to the people of Israel “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
It is a choice each of us faces today. Will we chose to make much of us, to make much of our idols, or will we chose to make much of God?
Jesus tells us we are “like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see”. But who are we lighting up? If the world doesn’t see Jesus when they look at us then our life is lived in vain. If we spend all our time shining the light of our life onto One Direction or FIFA 2013 or Friday Night Lights or Mumford & Sons or the New York Yankees how will our friends come to see the glory of God? There is a popular quote that says ‘You are the only Bible some people will ever read’. If we as Christians are not living to give all the glory in our lives to God, if we are making much of created things rather than the Creator God, if we are honouring ourselves rather than our Saviour Christ then what chance do our non-Christian friends have of seeing the light of the world? Today make sure the light of your life is pointed firmly onto Jesus and no-one or nothing else. Choose today to serve the Lord with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your mind.
“With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever” Psalm 86:12
On their latest song Hall of Fame, The Script sing about how they want you to make sure the world will know your name. Personally, I’d rather the world knows Jesus’ name. Are you with me?