A Christ-Centered Christmas Doesn't Have to Be HardExemplo

Let Your Light Shine

When it comes to holiday displays, I’m critical and silently judge each display.

• I love those lights!
• That’s really beautiful.
• What the heck were they thinking?
• That looks awful!

For some reason, my obsessive compulsive, orderly brain prefers similar lights to be grouped together. For example, I like all white lights, and I like all colored lights. But I don’t like when people mix them together. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. I can’t bear to look.

Recently, we were going down the road and I saw a lonely looking Christmas tree in the corner of someone’s yard. It was beautifully decorated with colored lights—all colored lights. I was just about to declare the display a perfect ten, when I noticed something was missing. The tree was only lit up on the front side, leaving the backside of the tree completely dark.

What an atrocity, I thought to myself. These homeowners only decorated the part of the tree that could be seen.

At that very moment, the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that sometimes I do something similar. I only allow certain parts of my life to be on display for others to see. Other parts, the not so becoming, flawed, or sinful parts, I prefer to keep hidden in darkness.

Friends, when we allow others to only see the ‘pretty’ side of us, the decorated, and nicely tied-up-in-a-bow side of us, we leave people with a sick feeling inside.

Do you know why?

They mistakenly believe that we have it all together, and they can never measure up. It makes them feel like they are less-than, or inferior.

Here’s a very powerful lesson God has taught me over the years. There is nothing more beautiful than the vulnerability of someone who is willing to let Christ shine through their flaws.

Jesus is called “The Light of the World” for a reason. In Him there is no darkness. When we have Christ inside us, He pours out His light through our flaws.

It’s impossible to shine the full light and love of Christ when we keep parts of ourselves hidden in darkness.

Being vulnerable and confessing our shortcomings, no longer pretending that we have it all together, will draw people to the love of Christ like moths to a light bulb.

Personal Reflection

• In what ways do you struggle to let your light shine through your flaws?
• What might be behind your resistance to let people see the real you?

Prayer

Lord, through my weakness, you are strong. I know that I’m far from perfect, and I need your grace each and every day. Help me be strong and courageous, allowing my flaws to shine through your perfect love and grace, so others feel safe and know that it’s okay for them to be real too.