{"id":390,"date":"2023-12-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/?p=390"},"modified":"2024-07-26T06:47:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T10:47:36","slug":"christmas-lights-for-christ-connected-strands-of-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/2023\/12\/20\/christmas-lights-for-christ-connected-strands-of-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Lights for Christ: Connected Strands of Light"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome back to this mini Christmas series, Christmas Lights for Christ! Did you enjoy the previous post? If you missed it, catch up by reading Part 1 of Christmas Lights for Christ!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual Lights Make Up The Whole<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last post we looked at how each believer is a light for Christ and how we all are called to shine for Him, brining His light and message to the world. <\/p>\n\n\n

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When you think about it, we\u2019re not only individually a \u201cChristmas light for Christ\u201d, but the complete body of Christ is like a whole strand of Christmas lights that cover from one end of the “house” to the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Christian joins alongside each other to spread God’s message and love across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re not just an individual light in God\u2019s kingdom, but you are also serving as part of a connected whole (1 Corinthians 12:20). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like individual lights connected by a strand, Christians are connected together to serve a joint purpose of brining Christ’s light and hope to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are connected by our one identity: God\u2019s child who is righteous in Christ.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

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Even though we are connected as one within the body of Christ, each individual still illuminates his or her own space in the world to light up the darkness around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are all joined together in Christ and called to spread His good news to the world. But, how we shine that light and the area we illuminate is personally created and handcrafted by God for us as individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Broken Bulb<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you experienced a time when you go to wrap the strand of lights around the tree, that one light bulb is out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When one light bulb goes out, it affects the whole strand of lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the strand still functions (usually), if it is missing one or two bulbs it impacts the effectiveness and brightness of the overall strand. Your eyes will fall to that dim area where there should be a colorful beam filling its space.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Similarly, if all Christians were fulfilling their God-given rolls and potential, the overall \u201cstrand\u201d of lights would serve the world around them better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s make it our goal to function in the body of Christ fulfilling our role as God intended. This way, we can better serve the community around us. Don’t be the bulb that’s dim or on the strand but not shining. You were made to glow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different Christmas Lights, All The Same Christmas Vibes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you go shopping for Christmas decorations and visit the lights section, there are so many different varieties. No matter your personal taste or the theme you\u2019re going for that particular year, there is a batch of lights to match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each kind is unique and beautiful, and depending on what you\u2019re needing, used for different purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like there are different styles of Christmas lights, so there are different giftings for Christians in the church.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I\u2019m not talking about a hierarchy of \u201cChristian-ness\u201d but rather Christians who share similar spiritual strengths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some are called to be pastors, some teachers, evangelists, etc. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Christians are joined together metaphorically as a strand of light that shares a similar call from God. Each part of the body of Christ functions to bring God\u2019s love and light to the society in which they\u2019re placed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of what \u201cstrand\u201d you feel connected with, all parts of the church are beautiful and necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let this holiday season remind you of the light you have within you as a Christian. Choose to shine boldly for Christ. Join other believers alongside you and partner together to bring His message of love, forgiveness, and redemption to a broken and dark world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where in your life can you see an opportunity to turn up your “light” and let God’s Word shine in and through you to those around you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to read more? Click here to read Part 3 <\/a>(and the final post in this series) of Christmas Lights for Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freebies!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Want a free smartphone wallpaper to remind you of the light God has called you to bring to the world around you? Click below to download!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download Smartphone Background<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to this mini Christmas series, Christmas Lights for Christ! Did you enjoy the previous post? If you missed it, catch up by reading Part 1 of Christmas Lights for Christ! Individual Lights Make Up The Whole Last post we looked at how each believer is a light for Christ and how we all 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back to this mini Christmas series, Christmas Lights for Christ! Did you enjoy the previous post? If you missed it, catch up by reading Part 1 of Christmas Lights for Christ! Individual Lights Make Up The Whole Last post we looked at how each believer is a light for Christ and how we all…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=390"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":413,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390\/revisions\/413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ellagrace.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}