“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NKJV
I live in a rustic neighborhood where I enjoy walking. There I experience nature in a profound way, the birds of varying colors and hues busily sing their song as they fetch their morning meal. Deer in groups of five or six hurriedly prance across the paved areas trying to get to the nearest underbrush. The spring brings out the best in the crocuses and camellias. I praise God for His awesome gift of beauty even though sin has marred His creative works. As I walk and admire nature I repeat passages from Psalms, hum a song of praise, or just talk to God.
Each day I pray that I will be a witness for Christ and that my countenance will reflect His lovely face. On day I was walking my last mile and heading for home when I saw Nancy Williams whom I usually greet. She shouted as she saw me and said she had been praying she would see me. She wanted me to pray for her son, Trent, a police officer. I had never discussed religion with her but she needed a shoulder to lean on. Her son was experiencing difficulty at work and was thinking about quitting the job because his health was being affected. As she spoke, I breathed a prayer that God would put the right words in my mouth.
Right there on the side of the road we held hands and I asked that God would change the situation at Trent’s precinct by whatever means He deemed best. I did not see Nancy for another two weeks because I went out of town. On my return I met her almost at the same spot on my walk. She shared how God had changed the job situation at Trent’s precinct. Some other officers had been transferred to other precincts, one left the job, and the work atmosphere now was much friendlier. Nancy exclaimed, “God sure does answer prayer!”
Why did this neighbor reach out to me? I cannot say, but I trust that my prayer of asking God to shine through me was what my neighbor saw. Jesus told us that we are the light of the world. Whether we are aware or not, people are watching to see how this light shines from us. We should always reflect the Christ of nature in all that we do.
May God help each of us daily to pray, Lord, let me be a shining light for You everywhere I go.
Eveythe Kennedy Cargill
First published in In His Presence (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press), 2018.
Carolyn R. Sutton, editor
