Be a Light to the World!
A light and a Gentile is what I am. At least, a light in a dark world is what I am striving to be. I fumble along, but I trust God’s leading, teaching, and wisdom so I can accomplish my purpose.
When I became a Christian and began reading the Bible, Gentiles was one word that troubled me. Who are or were these Gentiles? If the Word of God is for now and them, do I qualify? I was fifteen years old, and this troubled me. I was afraid to ask, because I was ashamed for my lack of knowledge, and my lack of grasp of the English language. So, I struggled on. It took me years to figure out that I do qualify… and that God loves me despite of me and all my faults and sins.
God Knows Our Struggles
I am sure that I was not the only one with this struggle. God knows our struggles and the pitfalls we face in our daily walk, especially as new and searching Christians. It’s why God gave us His Word and His Holy Spirit to help us on our journey. Although my journey of faith was not an easy one, it is one I would not change, for through the hardships I have learned a great deal, and probably more than had it been smooth.
So, I learned that a Gentile is anyone outside of the Jewish faith. Which, of course, means the rest of the world! I am a Gentile and the Word of God is for me, and yes, it is for right now. Yes, I am a receiver of the message, but once the message is received, we have another role to play; God’s plan and purpose to fulfill – spread the word.
Message Deliverer
Since I am not just a message receiver, I am to be a message sender and deliverer as well. This is the area where Israel failed. God chose his people, the Israelites, those of the Jewish faith, to be His Light to the Gentiles (the whole world), Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6. But Israel failed to fulfill their role. They became bogged down in their laws and rejected Christ as the long-promised Messiah.
Matthew 28:19-20
“19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Jesus Bible)
Jesus and Plan B
So, here came Plan B. Jesus then passed the role on to the Gentiles! Yes, that means me as well as everyone else who falls in that category and is a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God! Jesus commissioned his apostles to go out into the world and make disciples… of everyone! Then, those disciples make more disciples, and so on. It is a self-perpetuating commission.
So, although God’s original plan was for his chosen people, the Jews, to be His Light to the World, Christ gave the job to us. We are to be God’s Light to a world in darkness.
Children of Light Series
This is part of the message in my Children of Light book series. Yes, there are more messages in there, like God had a plan for each of His children; God loves all of us, no matter how far we’ve drifted from Him, and so on. But we are called to be Lights in a world of Spiritual Darkness. You have a purpose, one, that will bring you peace as you spread God’s truth and love.
Your Job… Your Purpose
How are you fulfilling that role? Has your Light gone out? Do you need a new wick? Do you need more oil? A new battery? A recharge?
Let me know, I would love to point you in the right direction.
Blessings,
Jana