Wednesday, October 31, 2012

As Christians We Should Shine …… Like A Pumpkin???


And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:18

Many holidays we celebrate come from different pagan origins throughout history.  We have adapted them in different ways so we can express them as Christians.  Here is a different way of looking at the jack-o-lantern and how we can relate the carving of a jack-o-lantern to salvation.   

This Halloween I thought it would be refreshing to talk about how we, as Christians, are like pumpkins.  We are like pumpkins in many ways if you really think about it.  We are chosen from the “pumpkin patch” by God and brought in from the field.  God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Colossians 3:12 He brings us in, cleans the dirt off and makes us white as snow.  We have quite a few layers of dust and dirt that we have picked up from the pumpkin patch.  But God promises that Old things are passed away and all things are become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Then, like a person would do if they were getting ready to carve a pumpkin, we open our hearts to Him, and He scoops all the yucky stuff we have on the inside out.  This represents sin.  It is hard to believe that He could love us with all that goop inside us, but He does.  Jesus cleans us out and removes the “seeds” of doubt, hate, greed, rejection, bitterness, and fear.  He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope, and love. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27 God empties out the bad and fills it with the good. 
The power and presence of God in our lives begins to change our countenance like a jack-o-lantern gets a newly carved face.  A joyful heart makes a cheerful face…Proverbs 15:13a.  He begins by opening our eyes like carving the eyes of a pumpkin, and soon the joy and love of God shows on our face.

Shining Through
When Jesus Christ lives in us, He shines through our life for all to see, just like the candle we put inside a carved out jack-o-lantern.  He shines through our heart, our words, our deeds and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us.  We carve up a pumpkin, and put a light in it that shines through the areas we carve. The deeper we carve, the more the light shines through.  Christians are like that pumpkin.  Christ comes into our lives and provides the inner “light”.  The world with its trials and tribulations “carves” our pumpkin, letting Christ shine through.  The deeper the cuts the more He shines through!  Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'  Let the light of Jesus shine through your cracks and crevices. Be a light to the rest of the world so that they can all see the good works of your Heavenly Father shining through you. 

Scripture to Claim:
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven”.    Matthew 5:14-16

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