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A Beacon to Outsiders
By Kristen Terrette
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5
A fifteen-foot, lighted cross stands strong in my father’s pasture. He welded it out of rebar and strung it tightly with outdoor Christmas lights a few years ago. After much labor, he set the massive piece of metal upright on his land and ran power to it.
But he didn’t erect it just for us—for family and friends. A hill and a patch of forest separate a small airport from the back of his house. Every time a plane takes off or lands at sunset or night, this brightly lit beacon cuts through any darkness.
My father, a classic tinkerer, followed through with an idea and made the most of what was at his disposal—an open field, his ability to weld, and thousands of stringed lights. He spreads a little bit of Jesus to all who look down from the sky. And his handiwork didn’t end there. He made me a six-foot tall LED-lit replica that I display every Christmas as my main holiday decoration.
I was nervous when I put the cross on my front lawn. My neighbors come from all different backgrounds, however, they knew my family attended church regularly and that I’d held a ministry leadership position. Still, I didn’t know how some of them would react.
My anxiety turned out to be unwarranted. Most have commented how much they love it. Jesus gets to shine, very literally, on my street.
The Apostle Paul encourages those of us who know Jesus to take every opportunity to point outsiders to Him. Whether by good deeds, a loving and compassionate example, or illuminating His death on the cross for us, we must present Jesus to a world who doesn’t yet know Him. What opportunity can you take today to impact someone’s eternity?
Kristen Terretteholds a Master's degree in Theological Studies and served as a Children's Ministry Director for five years. She cherishes her Southern roots and currently lives forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. She’s following her dream by writing Christian during the day and being a wife and mom come early afternoon when the family starts to arrive home. She’s serves on the Wholly Loved Ministries team, serves at her local church on the women's leadership and teaching team, and writes for Crosswalk.com. To see her blog and novels, check out her website at www.kristenterrette.com.
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