Bible Reading: Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

I love to camp. One of the essential tools for use while camping is a flashlight. One would like to have a light that worked - and worked well. Have you ever used a flashlight whose batteries were about dead? The dim, yellow light hardly did the trick in the tent - but on the trail or in the campsight, it was useless. That is why fresh, quality batteries, and a good flashlight is so important.

We are the flashlights in our dark world. Light has many uses. Christ wants to use the Light of Heaven which reflects off of us to accomplish a great work on earth in the hearts and lives of mankind.

1. Light is used for guidance. Those in the dark are not the enemy, they are there for us to help, bringing them the Word of Life, pointing sinners to the Savior, and to the place where their hearts can find the peace it craves. We need to be ready to help people understand their Bibles, like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch.

2. Light is used for revealing things. The Light that we reflect should reveal our faith so clearly that no one could possibly doubt our allegiance to Christ. In a week with us, another should KNOW the gospel, KNOW whom we serve, and KNOW who Christ is.

3. Light is used for warning. Life offers a rock on which the waves are sure to dash the lost and helpless to their destruction. Many false lights exist that lead them right upon these rocks. The true and bright light is needed. Sin and its tempting pleasures need a Christian's light to show them the way they are headed and the way they should be going.

4. Light is used for cheering. Nothing is so comforting in a dark world as light. Christians should offer comfort, kindness, and sympathy always.

Thank the Lord today that you can be this light with His help. Live in His light, and your light will be His, shining all about you, accomplishing all of this as naturally as breathing. What a marvel!

Bro. Greg