Sandy Ford serves as the SBCV Southeast Women’s Ministry Team Representative. She is a Bible teacher, retreat speaker, and pastor’s wife. Sandy loves serving women by encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Christ and embrace His purpose in their daily lives.
Every time I read a verse about being a shining light in today’s culture, I am immediately taken back to my early 20’s when I rededicated my life to Christ. One of my first Bible studies was on the book of Philippians and the passage in chapter 2:14-16 deeply resonated with me then and continues to challenge me today: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
This passage gave me a vision for what it means to live a life that reflects Christ; one that stands out in a culture that often pulls us in the opposite direction.
In the breakout session that I am leading at the Not Ashamed Conference on August 1-2, we will explore how we can live as lights in an increasingly dark world. We will discuss intentional ways to define our relationship with Christ and how to take practical steps toward a closer walk with Him. We’ll consider the pressures of modern culture and how it subtly and sometimes aggressively seeks to undermine and shape our values, behavior, and even our identity.
As followers of Christ, we can either influence the culture or allow the culture to influence us. Our thought life, the trap of comparison, the power of our daily choices, and the influence we carry into our relationships all play a huge part in the way we shine for Christ.
The truth of God sets us free and gives us the strength to stand firmly on His Word and promises. If culture becomes our standard, it can lead to stress, anxiety and confusion. However, if Christ is our foundation, we can walk in peace, purpose, and clarity.
Romans 12:2 reminds us of this powerful truth: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Ask yourself, How can we follow Christ if we are following a culture that does not follow Him? To shine, we must be willing to live counter-culturally and be different in our priorities, our perspective, and our purpose.
We must examine the way social media, entertainment, and how we spend our time affect our spiritual lives. This is not just about resisting culture, but about rediscovering the joy, freedom, and boldness that come from a life centered on Christ.
Just as that first study in Philippians reshaped my perspective years ago, my prayer is that the upcoming breakout session will be a life changing journey and an opportunity to rediscover what it truly means to shine brightly for Jesus in the world around us.
