My girls, like most kids, used to like to play Hide and Seek when they were little. I'd close my eyes while they went and hid some place in the house. I would holler, "Are you ready?" From under a bed or behind a door I would hear their little voices, "We're ready." Although I knew exactly where they were, I would pretend to look for them behind the couch or under a table announcing where I was looking. Of course I would hear them giggling as if they we're fooling me. But, if I stalled too long in finding them, they would run out from where they were hiding and proclaim, "Here I am."
Seems like a lot of followers of Christ play Hide and Seek. I don't mean by not showing up for church services or Bible studies. (Although some play that game too.) I'm talking about demonstrating their faith, actively living their faith. Many Christians hide by getting lost in the crowd. They hide their "faith" by going along with the crowd, fitting in, participating in various activities with their peers and coworkers and classmates that are not appropriate for true believers.
When we embraced the world and the world's standards, instead of finding the acceptance we are looking for, we end up getting trampled by the world. When we hide our faith by living just as the world lives, we get overrun by the world. True, living by God's standards sets you apart. You don't get invited to all the parties. Some people will reject you. However, if you're living as a light, demonstrating God's love, acceptance and grace, people will be drawn to you in their times of darkness like a June bug to a porch lamp.
If we hide ourselves in the world, we will fall victim to the pain and pitfalls of the world. The trampling. But if we live as salt and light, we bring refreshment and hope and guidance to those around us. People will seek us out.
God, help me to be the salt that drives people to drink from your living water. Help me be the light that causes others to be drawn to you.
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