Read John 1:3-5
Darkness is the work of the enemy. Light is the life of Christ. As we refuse to take part in bad behaviours the darkness and troubles around us will really turn into light and life. Leo Tolstoy, a couple of hundred years before 'pay it forward' wrote a book entitled 'The Forged Coupon'. This book starts with one person giving into a little temptation and then it spirals way out of control with lots of people down the road creating lots of serious problems -even death -for others. But then at a mid-way point of the book, the story reverses. One lady refuses to partake in selfishness and her act of goodness reverses the trend and is the first in a series of blessed events that sees all the characters, instead of spreading darkness, shining the light of Christ into the world.
It is the same with us. If the next time someone complains to you about someone, if you refuse to listen to it and counter by saying something good about that person and direct the complainant - with a smile - to speak to the person instead of about him/her; if you pray for him/her and refuse to gossip or even listen to her/him then you can be that turning point God uses to transform a whole community from darkness to light.
However, if we choose to complain ourselves or listen to others gossip. grumble and complain then we are feeding the darkness. Today the choice is ours, like those who live in darkness, we can grumble, complain, and gossip on a seemingly righteous campaign spreading that darkness and death or, like those who walk in the light, we can love and support our neighbours, refusing to repay evil with even a bad thought let alone a bad word or more. The choice is ours. We can choose the light of salvation or darkness and death. It is my hope that we will choose the light and love of God, for as we do we will see the whole world changed, our churches changed, and indeed we will see our very own souls transformed.
www.sheepspeak.com
Posts
