I keep thinking about us re-connecting with our purpose, when we are made new in Christ– not the whys and hows of it, because that is all His grace and glory, but the everyday application of it. What if our purpose as Christ-followers is simpler than we think, sometimes?  We agonize over finding God’s will for us, looking at our jobs, our decisions, our relationships… and with the right motives to honor Him in those areas, but somehow it is still about all the things that concern Self most.

Maybe His will is right in front of our noses if we back up far enough to see it all in perspective, God’s purposes on a grander scale. What Jesus says is simple and direct: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV) Shine. In the original language it is houto….give light…like any candle or lamp knows how to do. It just flames steadily, chasing back the darkness wherever it is. That’s what Jesus is calling us to do, to give light. To shine the light of Love and Truth and Righteousness that found you in the darkness and set you free, and now you have a treasure the rest of the world in darkness doesn’t have, doesn’t understand. So flame steadily there, in your own little corner because flame attracts, and warms, and grows; Jesus says this treasure is the light of the world. Our purpose is as simple as the song we sang as children: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine…”

And maybe if I focus on this simple purpose of existence– just give Light– all the other questions of job and decisions and relationship become a good bit clearer as well, because it isn’t about me finding answers any more, but about how to chase back the darkness in this corner where I have been placed. How to burn with the Light and Life of Christ. So shine.

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”. Romans 13:12

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:6