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“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Have you ever paid attention to the beauty of a stained glass window? It is enjoyable to gaze upon their beauty. From the inside of the auditorium at Kenbridge Christian and several other buildings with stained glass you can see the designs and colorings, which are so, so pretty. Yet — the true beauty of stained glass is actually seen from the outside when the light on the inside shines through them. This is even more spectacular at night when the light shines through the window into the outer darkness. Are you picturing this in your head right now? This quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is spot on! We are called to shine the beauty of God to others. This beauty is best seen by the darkness of a lost world around us as they see God’s light shining through our words, our actions, our love. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:15, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Notice who gets the credit. Not us. God. You feeling this verse? God shining through us is seen by others. He gets the credit for the love and the goodness. God is proclaimed when His light is seen through us in the darkness around where we are shining.

Right where you are, shine. Shine brightly at work. Shine brightly in your school. Shine brightly within your circle of friends. Shine brightly among your family. JC Watts said, “I think you grow wherever God plants you. I hope I’m growing as a person of faith, as a Christian. That should be our No. 1 objective in this journey of life. That all starts with a personal intimate relationship with Christ and then being in prayer every single day about all of those things — being tenacious about it.” Tenacious — firm, tight, fast, clinging, strong, powerful, forceful, unshakable, immovable.

Are you tenacious in your walk? Do you see yourself as a stained glass window? You see those windows all look different, as do we. Those windows are fragile and can easily break, as can we. But those windows sparkle only when there is a light shining from within. That’s deep, huh? So shine. Even when the light is only dim … it still shows beauty. Let’s build our light within by getting plugged in and growing together. Imagine the beauty in this community as those who follow Christ shine into the darkness together. #bethegood

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.