Sinners sin. Hurting people hurt people. As long as there are sinners, as long as there are hurting people we should expect people to behave in selfish, unkind, cruel, and at times inhumane ways. If you chose to watch or read the news you will find an overabundance of stories of cruelty, murders, selfishness (don’t get me started on politics), theft and so on. Stealing, killing and destroying seem to abound.

Today I think about something I heard a minister say regarding the nation of Israel. The minister said that God had strategically placed Israel as a center hub that all the other nations around it would have to travel through. The nation of Israel was to be a light to all the nations. A nation that shined with the goodness, the glory of God for all the world to see. This reminds me of a scripture regarding Christians.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

It also brings to mind these lines from the children’s song “This Little Light of Mine”.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine… Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine.

Here is a recent status update I posted to my Facebook page. 

Politics has caused such a divide and led me as a Christian to do things I was never supposed to do… judge, reject, condemn and pass sentence on people. I will continue to vote and make my voice heard for the America I know and love, but I will never again allow it to cause me to miss someone’s pain just because I don’t agree with them politically. #nofearherejustlove

This was in reference to the tragic death of Robin Williams. I didn’t watch his movies because of some of the things he had said and done regarding religion and politics. I also didn’t read stories about him. I just skipped over them. I didn’t know he battled depression. I didn’t know he battled addiction. I don’t recall ever praying for him. I had the same realization after Amy Winehouse’s tragic death.

For them, I was never a light. Maybe I never met them. Maybe I never would have, but I could have prayed. So it makes me think more about the people around me. The ones I have met. The ones I do know and who know me. Am I being a light? Or am I hiding my light under a bushel of offense due to politics, religion or just the behavior of sinners being sinners and hurting people hurting people?

This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine. I’m determined to let the world see God’s glory, His goodness through me no matter how dark and ugly the world can be. Selah.