Reflecting God's Light, Not the World's Image

So I had a great conversation over the weekend with a buddy on this devotional chain about the different stages we’ve been through in life as it pertained to “stuff” we acquired. And when I mean stuff, I’m talking about the fancy cars and expansive homes, etc. We basically concluded that as we get older, more mature, we realize we don’t need all that stuff anymore and it didn’t reflect who we are anyhow. If fact, we felt like God sent us through those stages in life, not to look back on and regret, but to enable us to see that none of that really matters anyhow. What really matters is our faith in God and being ready to follow his plan for us. Being able to be who we really are. But who is that really? When people look at you, what is it they see? It has been said that we are reflections of Christ. Made in Gods image. But when people look at you, do they see Him or some version of who society says you are? “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”Ephesians 5:8 Look, we can be just another reflection of the people, ideas, culture, trends, and whatever else around us. Or, we can be something different. Something bright! We can learn about God, His ideas, and His plan for our lives. That makes us reflections of something very different,God’s loving light. If we shine God’s light, that bright light will brighten up the world around us. So ask yourself this question. Who are you reflecting, yourself, your friends, God, something else? Are you becoming more like the world or more like God?I spent most of my life trying to reflect what I thought others wanted to see in me. I’m probably not alone. But it wasn’t until I gave my life over the God that I became consumed with “trying” to be a reflection of Him and His work in me. While we may fail, the desire to serve Him supersedes anything we have done in the past. Be Nice, Grace Wins.