You Cannot Turn Off the Light -- Robert Ricciardelli

Dualism remains a problem for many Christ followers. They compartmentalize their lives and miss the presence and light of God in every moment, breath, and context of life. Here are some scriptural truths on the matter:

• Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

• Proverbs 4:18: “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV).

• John 8:12: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Ministry by definition is the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians. One of the greatest revelations we can ever embrace is that whatever we do in life, is ministry, because the light of God in us and through us never goes dim. Every job, every assignment, our family, our leisure and whatever pathway that the Holy Spirit may lead us, is ministry.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Col. 3:23-24).

Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everything We Do Can Serve the King
No matter what you are doing, you are to do it all for Him, serving Him and His kingdom. If every believer can grasp the revelation that they are carrying His presence wherever they go, it will transform them and many around them. They will desire to walk in His nature, His love and His purposes, while establishing the kingdom of God upon the earth today.

When I first began falling deeper and deeper in love with God, I thought that the natural progression for me would be to become a full-time ecclesiastic, in the four walls type of organizational ministry. This false impression came with a guise that I would be loving God more that way. As I put myself more and more into the ecclesiastical pattern of service, I seemed to be getting more and more restless. The Lord finally had to hit me upside the head and say, “You’re going the wrong way.” I finally got the message and understanding that God had a different plan for me.

I finally understood that as I am in Him and He is in me, everything I did in obedience was just as spiritual as being a pope, a pastor, a prophet or any other title that religion might bestow upon any of us. The Father seemed to say to me, “As you continue to hear my voice and obey my words, I will continue to take pleasure in every part of your life with me.”

As the Lord continues to conform us into His image, the world begins to see Him work through us in all phases of life. We become His divine stewards of our families, businesses and in the communities in which we live. The stewardship of all that the Lord has for us becomes full-time ministry for each of us, because we never stop representing Him.

We are called to be full-time ministers throughout our business day as well, regardless of what we do. A bus driver’s ministry as the light of Christ is just as valid as those who shine His light from behind a pulpit. Mothers, you are full-time ministers to your family and community, even if you never work outside of the home. Everything we do is for the glory of God.

We become an act of worship to our Father in all that we do. In the name of Jesus, we become a people of character and integrity that bring salt and light to the world around us. In many ways and applications, ecclesiastic ministry may never reach or be relevant to those that are in the marketplace. But those in the marketplace who walk in the love and power of God, can be transformational instruments for His purposes.

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure–this light and power that now shine within us–is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NLT).

We Carry His Presence Wherever We Go
What an honor and joy it is to know that we bring His glory into every jurisdiction, situation and application in life. Just His presence alone can set people free. I have witnessed the presence of God transform lives through the simplicity of conversation or a relational engagement.

There have been times when the people I am relating with feel amazingly safe in sharing their deepest and darkest secrets with me. They will often say, “I have never told that to anyone, but there is something different about you; I trust you.” Well, we know what that difference is and what it isn’t. It certainly is not you or me outside of God. It is God in us, and it is His presence through us that will will allow the blind to see and the lost to finally find their journey in God.

Knowing we are activating His ministry every moment of every day, we must continue to be living epistles of grace and mercy to all we come in contact with. This does not mean we will necessarily preach. It just means we will be prepared to hear His voice, and give what He says we are to give. Our lives will preach beyond words, because of His presence.

When we try and wear our own spiritual clothes, it becomes a fruitless occasion. He may want us to give a word fitly spoken without chapter and verse, or just deliver some love, understanding and encouragement. We must have an ear to hear; which only comes from intimacy and time spent with the Father and His Word. With this intimacy, we gain a sensitivity to hear what He has for another during those opportune moments.

We cannot shut out the light of God. It is in us, on us, and through us at all times. We need every false religious tendency to die in order for us to flow in the life and experience of God. We must love supernaturally in bringing forth the kingdom of God in powerful ways. Father, give us wisdom and revelation as we serve in the marketplace and impart your glory to the world in Jesus name … Amen.

About the author: Robert Ricciardelli and his wife, Joyce, are the founders of the Converging Zone Network, which desires to connect people and provide a platform to share their unique passions, experiences and purposes. Through their blogs, newsletters and social networking platforms, they bring collaboration to over 100,000 each week in various spheres of society.