One headlight

For a while I had a headlight out on my car.

It's not the best way to drive around.

It can be done, but especially when driving at night, it's not smart.

Your field of vision is cut in half and this is more of a worry in deer season.

I have very limited skills when it comes to fixing cars, but I could always change my own light bulbs until now.

They made it nearly impossible for someone to change even a headlight.

I went out there myself to do this and they basically put a bar in front of the headlight, it was nearly impossible to get to the bolts I had to unscrew in order change the bulb.

I had to call Greg an elder and a mechanic at our church to change a light bulb.

It was pathetic, it even took him a little while just because of how they designed the car.

They basically set it up so if you did not take it to a mechanic, you could not change it.

Light matters especially in dark places.

The same could be applied to our faith.

Jesus talks about this in Matthew 5:14-17…

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven."

In this section Jesus calls his followers to be a light into dark places.

Jesus was known for spending time with the "so called" rejects of society.

He spent time with the IRS, hookers, physically and mentally handicap people.

He showed them the power of Christ.

He calls his followers to do the same.

We often fall short on this and then wonder why the world's value's and norms go down.

Because we would rather talk about how bad the world is getting rather than actually doing something about it.

There are a couple of easy ways to see if you are being a light unto the world or not.

1. Do you usually spend all your time around Christians?
   
2. Do you know your neighbors names?
   

Two simple questions yet hard answers.

It's easy to spend most of our time around Christians, it's where we feel comfortable and where we think our kids are safe.

Yet why would Jesus have a group of disciples and still focus on going outside of the box to visit so called "sinners?"

The second question hits home with me.

I have been living in Terre Haute since November and have yet to really talk to my neighbors.

What's so hard about this?

We wonder why we don't see more people come to Christ then we continue to hang out with the same people.

We make no attempt to make the world a better place then have the nerve to say, "This world needs Jesus more than ever."

We make excuse after excuse why we do what we do and don't get to know more people.

We fall short.

What's one way you can try to improve today or this weekend?

My goal is to know my neighbors names by the end of the weekend.

How about you?

What's one little step you can make to be a light in the world rather than under a bowl?

Have a great weekend.