In today’s background photo we see a brilliant array of candles … different colors, different scents, different styles … all glowing and shining together!
This is what God’s people – the Church – are like when we are gathered together to worship and praise God!
We are all different!
We have different backgrounds!
We have different experiences!
We have different gifts, talents, abilities!
And God has given each of us His light to shine! The light of Jesus!
As we are gathered together, the glow of Jesus shining in each one of us is a beautiful thing!
As we lift our voices all together to rejoice and sing praises to God, it’s a beautiful thing!
It’s amazing to be in the presence of so much light! It’s practice for Heaven!
But this world where we live is not heaven.
This world where we live is dark … very, very dark.
One day God will gather all of our little candles together. One day.
But for now … God has scattered us.
God has scattered us to the farthest corners of our very dark world.
We find ourselves longing for heaven … longing for the brightness and beauty of the glory of God! This world we are living in is so dark … so very dark.
It’s ok to long for heaven. But God has called us here … to this corner of darkness.
God has called us now … to this time and this place.
So we shine the light of Jesus where He has placed us.
We shine joy when we are gathered. We shine joy when we are scattered. No matter the place … no matter the circumstance, we shine joy!
The Fruit of the Spirit is joy.
