let your light shine

By Will Brannon

You might be the only Bible someone ever reads, the only church someone ever goes to, the only good someone ever sees.
I believe it’s by showing through our actions, good deeds, and kindness on a daily basis and especially in the face of trials and tribulations, that we show the world that we represent Jesus Christ. I believe it's truly letting God’s light shine through us and onto others. Remember it’s not us who does good, but God through us. By being open to the situations we find ourselves in, that God places us in, we receive the opportunity to serve as a conduit for God's light and glory.

Sometimes just a little conversation can make all the difference in someone's life. If you see a change in someone's face, a spark of interest, take some extra time to invite them to church or to talk again sometime over coffee. Some people have to be introduced slowly to the conversation about God and that's ok. 

It's not always about talking directly of God, but more guiding from a biblical perspective. Also showing the gifts of God, kindness, love, and caring. Sometimes the smallest things make all the difference.

Honestly, sometimes it's as simple as holding the door open for someone. You won't believe some of the reactions I have received from holding the door open for someone. Where I come from, that's just how doors work, they are held by nice people. Other times, it's my cross necklace that has been really effective. Anyone who has probably ever met me knows I wear a large shiney cross. It’s allowed me to not have to say I am a believer to everyone I meet, everyone knows what the cross stands for, even if they don't fully understand. That has allowed me to focus on being a good person, and when I have, it has allowed people to connect the dots. Also, people have approached me often to compliment me on it, which I love because It's an opportunity to talk about God with them. For instance, a woman saw me as I walked by and said I like your necklace and then asked me if I was a Christian, I said “yes ma'am I am.” Through that encounter, I was able to invite her to our church. 

The same is true with my bible. I like to read my bible in Panera Bread. The amount of people that have approached me about has been incredible. A little girl walked past me and started saying “Mommy, Mommy, look he’s reading his bible.” That warmed my heart, there are so many people that want to talk about God and they are just looking for an opportunity to do so, they may not even know that’s what they want until the opportunity is presented to them. 


Look, I know it sounds like very little, but the truth is, I think that's where the best work is done. We need to be able to connect with everyday people that don't come to church.

There are alot of different ways to show God's light, I have noticed that it's through the life changes I have undergone, through the faith I found in the pain and darkest moments in my life, that I have shined the brightest light onto others. By choosing God in the pain, God in the darkness, His hope instead of my hopelessness. In the darkness of my life, through me, without me doing a thing but keeping my eyes focused on him, I have shone the brightest light into other people's lives.

With this in mind, I recall a time when, as I sat talking with my wife about if I had done any good at all, if i had served in any meaningful way in people's lives, in that very moment, I received a phone call from my brother, who said, “I just want you to know that your faith and closeness to God in all you have been going through recently has renewed my faith, our dad’s and our family’s faith.” My wife and I both looked at each other as he spoke and I began to break down into tears. 

God has been so good to me. God spoke through him to me, so I would understand how God's real work is done, not by me, but through me.