Luminous being are we (how do we know we are lights of the world?)

So far, we’ve identified two signs that help us know we are being the light of the world. Today we are going to look at two more: we run a good race and we have a great life!

We run a good race
I’m convinced we can customise our life purpose. 

Now, I know that God has His plans for me. It says so in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  But I think I have a choice as to whether or not I go along with God.

I see that in the bible: Esther - called for such a time as this; Moses arguing with God about his stammer... We’re invited to participate in the biggest drama of the ages, but we don’t have to. I wonder, though, if when we say ‘no’ to God it leads to a bit of heart hardening.

I wrote in the first post that there’s a two-chapter gap in Genesis between God entering in to the blood covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s circumcision. God always makes the first move, and there is always a choice as to whether - and when - we respond.

And your race won’t look like everybody else’s. It can take time to work out what your race is.  If that’s you, don’t disqualify yourself when God has already qualified you.  My husband is pastor – I don’t have a pastoral bone in my body. I can’t run that race. I need to run my race.

If you’re not sure what your life purpose is yet then I recommend you sow your time, talent, and money into someone else's dream. 

The law of sowing and reaping is always in operation. You sow, and it will come back to you – often tenfold - and it will help you determine where you should be running.  When the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, God told them to be as fruitful and productive as you possibly can, and we’re told to do all that is at your hand to do (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  To shine well, we have to run well.

We have a great life 
We have direction and purpose. We are stable.

Jesus tells us that he came to give us abundant life.

Some Christians suggest God gets glory from the way His people tolerate pain and suffering. That the world is somehow impressed by that. That’s a lie. I love what Kenneth and Gloria Copeland say: “People outside church already have more pain and disappointment than they can handle. They aren't looking for a way to endure it.  They are looking for a way out of it.  They don't care what we preach; they care about how we live. They'll come to our church when they hear people are getting healed, delivered, and set free from suffering. When they see unity and love and honoring [sic].  When we stop cursing and start praising.“

The Bible says that God gets glory when people see the lame walk and the blind see (Matthew 15:31). It also says we can give glory to God when we eat and drink (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Circumstances don’t determine our feelings we can be well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel we have heard.  And despite what’s going on in the world, we do not need to be afraid. In Genesis 47 there was famine in Egypt but God’s people - the Israelites - who lived in Egypt gained possessions and multiplied. 

We think we live in the world, but we really don’t. We actually live in a place called the Kingdom of God. And when we live there we have healing, joy and stability. And healing, joy and stability are great witnesses.