"There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it."
The question I ask, is which one are you?
In Matthew 5:14-16 it says,
"You are the light of the world-like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
I think some are called to be the light, and some are called "just" to reflect it.
If you are the candle, you are the original source of light, you are plugged in. You are someone who gives and receives hope, love, and peace. A candle emits light into a dark room; it shines, so that people can find their way around the obstacles that otherwise they might have tripped on. In life, there are obstacles that may come in ones life, it might be dark in their life, they might not know which way to turn. Thats's when people that are candles come in, they shed light, God's light, as an effort to guide the lost along the path.
If you are a mirror, you are simply reflecting the things around you. Mirrors must be careful, and choose what is around them wisely. I encourage you to choose what you surround yourself with, wisely. Because you will end up reflecting that. If it's negativity, wrong choices that are around you, you might not necessarily be the source of those things, but you are reflecting it. Surround yourself with positive influences, friends who push you closer to God, not pull you away. Choose people when they mess up, they know how to say sorry, who are obedient and sensitive to God's voice. Choose friends who shine brighter than a diamond, so that you may reflect them. A mirror has potential to be the most vital part, you might not get recognition a whole lot, you might be behind the scenes quite often, but have you ever noticed a glass building or sky scraper reflecting the sun in the evening? It's blinding. It wouldn't be blinding without the building, the light might would still be there shining, but the "mirror" makes it 100x stronger, eliminates the light.
And on the other hand, the light is just as important. Without it, the mirrors wouldn't have a job. There would be nothing to reflect.
I encourage you to be the light. Reflect the light around you. There is too much negativity in this world, be the positive. "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi
I want you all to ponder on the next and last verse I will share. It comes from 1 Peter 2:9 it says, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day differences he made for you, from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted."
Let those words speak to you, ask God what they mean for you personally. I found meaning in those verses, but I won't share them, because I want you to find their own meaning for you. I found something interesting in my Bible it asks "What is the point of 1 Peter?" it says, "God's people won't always be popular, and that's okay." Maybe you aren't called to be the light right now, but the reflection to just make it brighter. The mirror in the background... And that's okay.
With Peace, Grace, and Love, my friends... Be the light. Show the light.
