Advent, December 5, Shine a Light

My sincerest apologies for not posting in this Advent series yesterday.  I haven't felt well the past couple of days.  Yesterday I thought things were better so the hubs and I went out on a date.  To make a long story short, I wasn't better after all and I ended up in bed.  So my apologies.  If you would, please lift up a prayer for all of us who suffer with Dysautonomia.  It's a cranky, crazy disease that flares in odd and painful ways.

Enough about that.  Lets get on with Advent.

The United States of America has suffered a blow this past week.  Many are frustrated, scared, anxious and worried.  Families have lost their loved ones to hatred.  Our hearts hurt.  But among the distress I came across this article about a hero in the San Bernadino terror attacks.  It reminds me that there is always someone doing something good in the world.  We just seem to pay more attention to the evil.

Consider Matthew 9:35-10:1-8 (NASB)

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Isn't it magnificent that Jesus saw through to the people's hearts, realizing they were like wee sheep, wandering about without a shepherd?  Jesus taught the disciples to go out and do as He did.  That was a daunting task considering all that Jesus had done.  But the disciples did go and we should as well.  

"Freely you have received, freely give."  This lovely commission is not just for the disciples.  It is also for you.  In this chaotic world, people need Jesus.  We, as children of God, have received so much we need to give back.  How can we do that?  

Perhaps it is as simple as trying to find the good things in this world and draw attention to them.  Find the heroes in life and shine a light on them.  Lift people up.  Banish the negative and illuminate the positive.   

As we await Jesus' coming, freely give.  Let your light shine.

Jesus, come quickly.  

Kelley