Let It Shine

Well, I just got back from elk hunting and those animal lovers among you will be happy to know that the score for our group hunt this year is Elk, 3...Hunters, 0--there were three of us searching, three of us freezing, and three of us weeping by the end of the week.  We didn't see any animals but our consolation was that we thoroughly enjoyed marching through the bitter cold, for miles and miles, in awestruck captivation of the majestic Rocky Mountains. 

You know, with the end of big game hunting season for me this year, my thoughts naturally shift to other priorities.  My heart for helping people to become "learners of Jesus" (disciples), not just learners of His words but people demonstrating His actions in beautiful imitation, gets expressed most fully in the moderate fall and emerging cold of early winter.  Between the Harvest Festival in late October, our Thanksgiving Feast in late November, and Christmas activities, this time of year is an amazing opportunity for introducing friends and family to the very basic principles of "Loving Jesus, Loving People, and Serving All". 

In the Book of Luke, the historian writes of what it means to truly be a Follower of Jesus.  Luke states in chapter 9, verses23-24, "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."  So in all reality, the life of the Christian is all about loss.  It's self-denial...it's putting other people and their needs before our own personal needs.  It's taking up a cross, and it's dying to ourselves, everyday.  Bottom line is, living the life of a Christ Follower is hard.

As we begin to move into the upcoming season, may we all sense the importance of living a life of loss.  May we all continue, or maybe begin, to put others before us.  May we realize that everyday we have the opportunity to breathe light and life into someones existence and as we do this, the world around us begins to change.  My prayer is that we would embrace the God-given opportunities to love people, regardless of where they might be spiritually, socially, emotionally, or physically, and as we do may we become "Jesus" to the people around us.  This is an amazing opportunity to shine...let's shine on together.