WHAT IF we were the ones?

My friend got a phone call from her doctor the other day, just checking up on her. Fact is the internist could not believe that the file that landed on her desk could be right—the same patient she had recently diagnosed (and subsequently treated) with kidney cancer had now gotten a diagnosis of breast cancer?! How could that be? ‘I just had to hear your voice,’ the kindly physician said. And then she said something very impactful— 
‘You know, not very many people come into my office like you; you were a shining Light.’ 
What the doc said was true, she is a Light to all who know her—her gentle spirit, her joyful way, and her unwavering faith. And on that day, that phone call turned the tables—the physician was the shining Light in my friend’s existence. 

How about you? When times are troubling, it is a great opportunity to be a shining Light. I’m wondering, are you willing to look past your own trials to encourage another? Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others…”1 I can think of no better time for our Light to shine than in the world’s present darkness! It is not that we need have all the answers, and ever-present calm collected thinking, but it is the inner peace of knowing the One who does and trusting him. 

This message has come to me in several different ways, including this morning’s message at church. While there is trouble in our day, we are under the watchful eye of the Shepherd himself. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.2 

Of course, the role of the sheep-herder, the role of the shepherd was well known in first-century Palestine and before. We think of David as the shepherd boy, but Moses was a shepherd as well. The sheep may be dumb and even defenseless but the one who cares for them is neither. We can have the same confidence David had as he sang the 23rd Psalm ~ 

“Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! 
He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams.”3 

I had thought to stop there, but in my mind’s eye I see the faces of those who need more of this song of assurance. Even as David wrote the words because he felt the Good Shepherd’s presence and help, the same presence and help are here for us today as well. Look! 

“He gives me new strength. 
He helps me do what honors him the most. 
Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. 
You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! 
Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.”4 [Perhaps you need to 
write a few of those lines down—meditate on them, memorize them] 

Confident of the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, we can point others to the Light. We share the love of Jesus and invite others to where they can hear that God is for them. Because after all, as Paul makes the point so clearly, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”5 
What’s more is that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love—look: ~> For I am persuaded that not even death or life, 
angels or rulers, 
things present or things to come, hostile powers, 
height or depth, or any other created thing 
will have the power to separate us 
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!6 

It is “GO” time, Christian. Time to be Light, time to tap into the unfailing, ever-present love of God and share it. Love a little more, believe the best in others, hug a little more and a little longer, go the extra mile. Let’s do this! Yes, let’s be the ones who are the difference makers in our culture—what do you say? 

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 – Matthew 5.14-16 
2 – John 10.14-15 
3 – Psalm 23.1, The Living Bible 
4 – Psalm 23.2-6 ibid 
5 – Romans 8.31 
6 – Romans 8.38-39