The Shine That Shows Whose You Are
Well, now, land sakes alive, Butterbean, come on over here and set yourself down on this here front porch like a tired ol’ raccoon ‘a-settlin’ into a hollow log after a long night o’ mischief. Now, then, John 13:35 comes right on in ’a-struttin’ like a big ol’ turkey tom done is ‘a- thinkin’ he’s the one that done invented feathers. Jesus was ‘a-sayin’, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” That right there’s the whole doggone message tied up tighter than a lil’ ol’ squirrel ‘a-hangin’ onto the very last pecan in November right ’a-fore the ground gits covered by the snowfall.
Matthew 5:14-16 is ‘a-remindin’ us that we’re “the light of the world, a city on a hill that can’t be ‘a-hidden.” Now, Butterbean, that there done means we ain’t supposed to be ‘a-stickin’ our heavenly “Jesus” light under a bucket like a confused lil’ ol’ beaver ‘a-tryin’ to be ‘a-hidden under a tree stump. Nope. We’re done meant to be ‘a-shinin’ so bright that even the hoot owls git ta’ blinkin’ twice.
Maybe you’ve already been ‘a-knowin’ one o’ them there rare folks who’re jes’ ‘a-oozin’ love without even ‘a-tryin’. They jes’ walk into the room and suddenly everybody done gits ta’ feelin’ calmer than a cow in a patch o’ clover. They don’t have to be ‘a-talkin’ or ‘a-doin’ nothing. They just carry love like an ol’ mama goose ‘a-leadin’ an’ ‘a-’protectin’ her lil’ baby goslings. An’ you done git to findin’ yourself ‘a-wonderin’, “What in the world done gits ta’ makin’ ‘em be like that?”
Jesus done answers that there question as plain as a lil’ ol’ pig track in the mud. He done says that His disciples will be known not for preachin’, teachin’, buildin’ churches, or organizin’ committees. He says they’ll be known for love. Real love. Agape kind o’ love. That there kind that done gits ta’ givin’ without ‘a-keepin’ score. The kind that done gits ta’ shinin’ so bright that the whole world done gits ta’ seein’ it, just like Matthew 5:14-16 is ‘a-sayin’.
Galatians 5:22 is ‘a-tellin’ us that the real fruit of the Spirit is love. It ain’t gossip. I ain’t grumpiness. Not one o’ them there lil’ ol’ sayin’s that jus’ tells somebody, “I’ll love you if you’ll be behavin’ right.” Just plain love. Pure and simple love . Ask the Lord to be ‘a-makin’ you one o’ them there folks who’s done ‘a-carryin’ His pure love like a bright shinin’ lantern on a real dark moonless trail in the forest at the midnight hour. Folks won’t be ‘a-praisin’ you. Nope, but instead, they’ll be ‘a-praisin’ the One who done was the One who done lit that there lantern with His divine light.
Father, I be ‘a-askin’ You to be ‘a-fillin’ me with Your kind o’ love so deep and wide that it done gits ta’ spillin’ out on everybody ‘round me. Be ‘a-teachin’ me to be ‘a-shinin’, to be ‘a-carin’, and to be ‘a-lovin’ like You’re ‘a-doin’. Be ‘a-lettin’ my life be ‘a-pointin’ right straight to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now you gotta’ go on, Buttercup, and be ‘a-thinkin’ ‘bout lovin’ folks. Maybe this here kind o’ lovin’ is like a real good ol’ farm dog. He don’t be ‘a-needin’ to be ‘a-doin’ any real fancy tricks. He’s jus’ ‘a-needin’ to be ‘a-showin’ up, ‘a-stayin real loyal, and ‘a-keepin’ on pointin’ folks toward their home. I’m ‘a-prayin’ that Your love done gits ta’ shinin’ a whole lot brighter than a whole big ol’ cornfield real full o’ lil’ ol’ lightning bugs ‘a-holdin’ one o’ them there great big ol’ revival conventions on a real warm summer night.
With joy,
Gwen
