When Bobbie Starks @ Christ Fellowship first approached me to be a Small Group Leader I was honored, humbled and more than a little bit frightened. I wasn’t scared of leading a group, my fears all revolved around the fact I was certain no one would come. When I expressed all of these things to Bobbie in rapid fire, rambling prose she smiled and said, “Girl, you’re not bringing any women to this group, God will. This isn’t your group, it’s God’s. You’re just His instrument. If you’re willing, He will use you. Wait and see.”
As Bobbie and I met over the next few weeks in preparation for me to become a leader, we talked spheres of influence and verses found in Mathew 5:14-16.
Mathew 5:14 – 16
You are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.
Reading these verses evokes an elementary school chorus pealing through our minds:
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Whoa oh oh!
And on it goes….
Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m going to let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
As our mind rings with the words it’s easy to dismiss the strong message of this verse.
You are the light on the hill.
Think about that for a few seconds, YOU are the light on the hill.
This leads us to our goal of this week, ladies, check out your hill.
- Where is your hill? Where are you shining from?
- What does it look like? Who is sharing the hill with you? How many people are on this hill of yours?
- How do people feel about you on this hill? How do they feel about themselves after knowing you? How do they look at God after knowing you?
Are the people on your hill, climbing your hill and in earshot of your hill better humans because they know you? Do they love themselves more because your smile has touched them? Do they understand they are loved because they’ve felt your kindhearted gaze in their direction? Do the people on your hill know you’re a Christian? Do they know what you believe so they can believe, also? Does knowing you make them want to believe? What is the specific trajectory of your hill? Are your pulling people up the hill with you or by your actions are you repelling people down and away? Do they know you love them, you up there on that hill?
We’ve talked about this before in group, there is a purpose for each of us here.
Now.
God isn’t asking a question in this text, this is a statement. If we believe our “faith” verses as we know we do, then we have to believe this one, too. You are the light of the world. Yes, you. The question isn’t about your illumination. That’s a fact. The question is what are you going to do with yourself here in this life? Where are you going to shine? How broad is your light?
If salvation was our only purpose, God could take us to heaven as soon as we’re saved. He doesn’t. Why? Because then there would only always be lost people left. We are left here because we are the influence. The whole reason you are here is because you are the light.
We all have spheres of influence. As we shine brighter those circles multiply. Some are easy to identify; others we just move through them quickly and forget. While we forget, we dim our light. Who is our hill, is it
- Our families
- Our friends
- The other moms @ our childrens’ schools, @ their games, @ their music, dance, gym lessons
- Our coworkers
- Our church
- Our Small Group
- They lady whose check-out we always go through @ Publix to say hi
- The waiter whose table you pick every time we go to Pub Grill on purpose
- Our barista @ Starkbucks, our mail carrier, our bank teller
This week, take some time and get to know your hill. As you realize how much you care for those people you’re shining for, I think each one of us will be reminded how important it is to illuminate.
What are we waiting for? Need some fuel for that light?
It’s been a long, hot, fun-filled summer for many. Now that school, schedules and routines are getting back in full steam, it’s a good time to re-energize and reflect on our priorities. Where is God in yours? That’s a loaded question. A great way to find out, shining lady of light, is how bright will you shine?
purelyjoyous living 