On this episode of A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie talks about how important it is for Christians to shine brightly in a world that feels dark and hopeless. As believers, we are meant to show God’s love through our actions. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us to let our light shine so others can see our good deeds and give glory to God.
‘Jesus uses this backdrop, this illustration,’ says Greg, ‘to talk about how we should be living as we wait for our bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, to return. Live in a state of readiness, and let your light shine. We need to be shining more brightly. And as Christians, we need to be known more for what we are for than what we are against.’
Greg believes our focus nees to be on what Jesus wants us to do while we wait for Him to return. In Luke 12:35-40, Jesus compares His return to servants waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast. Weddings in Jesus’ time would last several days, and the return of the groom was uncertain. We must also be alert and ready for Jesus’ return, which could happen at any moment.
Give Glory to God
Greg shares five key ideas for believers waiting for Jesus. First, we are meant to shine like lights in the world by showing our faith through good actions. Instead of being negative, Christians should demonstrate what goodness looks like. Second, we should stay alert, understanding what is happening around us and watching for signs that might mean Jesus will come back soon.
Greg also mentions that we should be ready to leave at any time, much like packing bags for a holiday. This means living with the understanding that Jesus could return any moment, which leads us to think about our daily choices and how we live. ‘Maybe ask yourself this question before you do something,’ says Greg. ‘This place that I’m about to go, or this thing that I’m about to do, would I be ashamed or embarrassed to be doing such a thing if Jesus were to come back?’
We should eagerly look forward to His return, just like the excitement we feel when we finally see someone we love after being apart for a long time. And we should be busy and productive while we wait. Being a Christian isn’t just about sitting and waiting; it’s about actively sharing the Gospel and helping to spread God’s message. It’s about making disciples and sharing hope with others.
‘When God is forgiving you of your sin, you’re so thankful,’ says Greg. ‘You’re so grateful, and you want to go out and tell others about what He has done for you.’
‘We have a choice. We can either evangelise or we can fossilise.’
Listen to Greg’s full message below:
