Day Forty-Eight

YOUR ONLINE LIFE

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

—MATTHEW 5:14–16 ESV

You’ve Got Mail is still my favorite movie. Maybe it’s because the main character owns a tiny bookstore, or maybe it’s the overuse of twinkly lights, daisies, tissues, and knee-length skirts, but if that movie comes on television, I can hardly walk away.

Back when it first came out, the idea that you would meet a person on the Internet was so foreign and creepy that it forged new territory. That is no longer true. The Internet keeps us together, and I’m grateful. On its best-behaved days, I’ve seen the Internet be the string that ties together old friendships that might otherwise break apart.

Today’s verse is about being the light of the world. We are to be a light wherever we go, even online.

Before I started writing books, I began as a blogger (anniefdowns.com/blog). When I first started, I knew about five people with a blog. I just started writing for those five. For my friends. I began to tell stories of my days in the classroom as an elementary school teacher, my church experiences, and the ridiculous things that seem to happen to me a lot. And before I knew it, strangers were reading what I wrote.

My blog audience has watched my life unfold firsthand, and my light, while sometimes foggy and often dim and flawed, has shown over the city of people who come to my website every time I write a blog post. And God is glorified, even in my mistakes. Readers don’t have to really know me for them to experience God through my life.

We are to be a light wherever we go, even online.

The medium doesn’t matter. Facebook. Twitter. Blog. Instagram. Pinterest. (I’m @anniefdowns in all the places if you want to connect!) You have so many chances to share light, to share God, to make Him known to the people who listen to your voice. But the Internet is not exactly a Christ-welcoming place. It takes courage to share your faith and be a light for Jesus, whether you’re online or not. We need to view technology as tools God gave us to glorify Him, however that looks and however many “unfollows” it costs us. Let’s all be brave with our online platforms.

BE BRAVE: Take a picture of the cover of this book, and post it on your social media spots. Offer for your friends to join you in this 100-day challenge. Make sure to use the hashtag #100daystobrave!