As Christians, how can we let our lights shine in our communities? Have we put Christ on as The Light of our lives? We cannot be the influence that we ought to be as long as we have not become Christians. Therefore, we must follow God’s Word to become children of God. Let us find out how a person becomes a child of the King!
First, one must hear the Word of God as stated in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Secondly, a person must believe God’s Word as quoted in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. But he who does not believe shall be condemned.” Thirdly, one is required to repent of his or her sins. There must be a change of heart (mind) and a change of actions. Luke 13:3, 5 say, “I tell you, no, except you repent you will perish.” This must be essential as Christ spoke these words twice as emphasis that one—not should—must repent. Fourthly, it is necessary to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Romans 10:9-10 reads, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Lastly, a penitent believer must be baptized into Christ, and then, He adds him to His church. In Acts 2:38 we find written, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” After we have done all that is required, only then does Christ add us to His church. Acts 2:47 records, “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
How do we let our lights shine? We are to imitate Christ in the way we speak and act. We are watched by all around us. Our lives are like throwing a small pebble in a pool of water; ripples go on and on. We do not know who or how we are influencing those around us with our actions and speech. No one lives or dies to himself (Romans 14:7). So, let us all speak and act as Christ did when He was on the earth.
