Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

~Philippians 2:14-15 ESV

Do you feel the tension? The battle between darkness and light? This dark and divided world is not a friendly place for people of the Light, but we can’t stop shining.

We stop shining when we become offended when the world acts like the world, and when we act as if other people’s sins are worse than ours. Our lights grow dim when we demand our voices be heard and stop listening to others.

Jesus does not need us to defend Him. He commands us to be like Him. To “re-present” Him everywhere we go. It’s time we quit following after people with our fingers pointed and start following Jesus. The more closely we follow Him, the brighter our beams will shine.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

~John 8:12 ESV 

In his book, Visioneering, Pastor Andy Stanley said, “God has positioned you in your culture as a singular point of light. A beacon in a world that desperately needs to see something divine. Something that is clearly not of this world.”

Where is your beam pointed? Make sure it points to the One the world needs to see. 

Think of those in your household, neighborhood, or workplace who need to see Jesus in you. Then, shine to them.

Lord, You are the Light with a big L. Any light in me comes from You. Forgive me for the times I’ve mispositioned my beam or turned it off altogether. Use me to point others to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: We Can’t Stop Shining: Lee Merrill: All Rights Reserved