Shining Bright at Home

Being a Gospel light to those around you

I had no idea how many people are hurting; no idea how many people are in need of help. I was naïve, or simply turning a blind eye. They’re right there, in my day-to-day life. At my job, in my home, at my church. How many people can it be? It seems that there’s an all-out assault on the Body of Christ, and we’re sitting around taking it.

I had lunch with a friend today; I wanted to talk to her about a mutual friend who has been living for the world. But we ended up talking mostly about her life and all that’s going on with her. She needed that today. And who wouldn’t? When you’re going through the fire, there’s nothing like a good friend to talk to, to let you know that it’s going to be all right and that you’re going to pull through. God’s not done with you, yet!

I was so happy to be able to speak with her today, but on the way home I began to see the vastness of this situation. Nearly everyone around me is going through a tough trial. A lot of people need our help. We have small groups at our church, and the one that meets at our house is nearly full of hurting people. There has to be a solution.

Being a missionary, I tend to associate my ministry as one being overseas-only. I’m also a volunteer in my local church, yet it’s like I’ve somehow separated that portion of my service from my “real” job. But we have to understand that America is the mission field, too. Your church is the mission field. Your job, your home, the gas station … all mission fields. There are hurting people everywhere. Can we differentiate between the folks we’re “called” to reach and the folks we’re close enough to reach?

God says we’re to reach out to those around us. I’m reminded of what Oswald J. Smith says: “The light that shines furthest, shines brightest at home.” You’re not going to be truly effective in the “uttermost parts of the earth” until you’re effective in “Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria”. You can’t have the duality of a passion for the lost souls of the nations of the world, and no remorse for the lost souls of your hometown. We have to reach out to those around us, too.

~Jonathan

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June 3rd, 2007 · Back to Top

Comments (2)

  1. Darlene

    HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME ..WHOM YOU CAN NOT SEE AND YET NOT LOVE YOUR BROTHER WHOM YOU SEE EVERYDAY.!! just something that falls in line with something i saw in “Segregated Sunday” ( awesome movie ) .

    This is what you have told me on occasions past Jon…there are hurting in your mirror sometimes if you take time to stop and really look.

    ” this little lite of mine im gonna let it shine , let it shine ALL over the world ”

    after reading this passage that song popped in my head ..

    luv ya and keep you lite burning bright wherever you are !!!!!!!!!

    On June 7th, 2007, at 8:25 am

  2. Jonathan

    Thank ya, girlie! I’m reminding myself throughout the day to keep my lamp burning. I’m reading the autobiography of George Müller right now; he was always thoughtful of whom God would want him to speak to. Where should I pass out a tract, who should I hand money to, is there someone in this store I’m about to go into who needs healing? That sort of thing. Keep it always at the front of your mind.

    On June 11th, 2007, at 1:03 am

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