Skip to main content

Are You Plugged In AND On?

Last night after turning off my lamp and crawling into bed, I couldn’t help but stare at the now dark lamp. The lamp doesn’t share its light when it isn’t on even though the lamp is still plugged in to the outlet. There’s nothing wrong with the lamp. It could still shed light, but because it isn’t on it doesn’t.

            I began to think. How many Christians act that way? How many members of the church body work the same way as that lamp? We’re in the right place, attending services, listening during Sunday school, paying attention during the preacher’s message, praying along silently as others lead prayer during service,  teaching and serving in different positions in the church, maybe even taking prayer lists home and lifting them up during the week, but even though we are ‘plugged in’ we’re not ‘on’.


We’re physically there. We’re ‘plugged in’. We know what’s going on with some of the people at church – or at least with those who we like. We have our Bible in our hand, and we’re dressed nice. Still, are we really ‘on’? Are our minds, hearts, and souls on and ready to share with others, ready to fellowship with our Lord and Savior, engage with our church family, ready to lend a hand to our neighbors, and love everyone - no matter what they’re wearing, what they say or do that we don’t agree with, or whether or not they attended last week or skipped.
There’s a difference between being plugged in and being ‘on’.  Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” Do others see Jesus in you? Is the light of Jesus shining through you? Are you plugged in but not ‘on’?
My prayer for you and all Christians today is that if we aren’t plugged in we will pray and ask God to show us the way He wants us to be plugged in - whether it’s teaching a class, praying for others as they lead, or simply attending a class you’re not exactly sure about going to. Perhaps, you are ‘plugged in’ but you aren’t ‘on’. My heart aches for each of us in this position. God meant for us to shine His light with the world. I pray you find a way to turn your light ‘on’. Maybe you’re light is on, but it is fading, is about shot, or is just on because it has to be or is routine. I pray you find a way to change your light bulb to a brighter watt! ; )


                                               God bless!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Minute Fridays

I follow several blogs, but there are only a handful I read daily including Rainmakers and Stormchasers, http://www.jennyrain.com/ . Jenny has a blog friend who does Five Minute Fridays where you write on a given topic for five minutes, post your writing unedited, and encourage others to do the same. Today’s topic was 'Remember'. Here's my unedited five minutes on 'Remember'...(What did you do on your lunch break?).... Remember...  I remember those times… with family and friends… Those long seemingly endless summer days at Memaw’s with my sister, brother, and cousins…I remember waiting on mom to come in for lunch…And those special days when Aunt Barb came too…Oh the days we spent at Aunt Barb’s…I remember loving… Then, there were those mornings before school where we all gathered around the breakfast table…Memaw always prepared a feast…we would argue over who’s turn it was to say the pray…but I remember all the other conversations were so good…I remember gett
3 comments
Read more

Stay and See Jesus for Yourself

Recently during our Wednesday night women's class, we were listening to part of Priscilla Shirer's portion on the DVD series 'Unwrap the Bible'. We hadn't yet made it all the way through Priscilla's portion when I noticed myself writing these words in my notes, 'Stay and See Jesus for Yourself'. Now, I won't steal Priscilla's thunder or her great points. (I couldn't do it justice.) Let me just say, those words I wrote seemed to leap off the page at me: Stay and see Jesus for yourself. How often do I run ahead of God, too often! Still, at some point I seem to remember to come back to Him and ask for mercy, grace, and direction to walk His way instead of my own. How often do I hang back not willing to jump in to something He has for me? I think of a C.S. Lewis quote, 'There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.' I mean that's exactly what Paul tells us, right? For us to live is Christ and to di
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Minute Fridays

It's time for Five Minute Fridays. No editing, no backtracking, and no over-thinking. Just writing for five minutes on a given topic. Join us. Today's Topic: Grit. Grit is the gumption not only to keep going when times are tough but to keep going with the determination that God knows what is best, and no matter what He will see you through this. The most important part of the endeavor is to realize not only is God leading you through your struggle, but He wants you to lead others, to set a Holy example, to love as Christ loves, and to come out stronger on the other side. Never resenting what you’ve gone through, but being thankful for the grit to keep going. Grit is more than continuing when others would stop. Grit isn’t walking blind or slowly moving through a valley. Grit is climbing towards the mountain top… Pulling others with you as you climb… Carrying more than your own load but that of your sisters’ and brothers’ in Christ... Grit is there when you physically,
3 comments
Read more