2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

It’s October, and I’ve been thinking about opposites this month. Specifically, when thinking about October 31st, doesn’t “Happy Halloween” sound a little contradictory? What’s so happy about scary costumes and horror movies? And most of us do not enjoy being scared, really scared. Halloween decorations such as skeletons and pumpkins are given life when they are not really alive.

On the other hand, in some aspects, Halloween can be fun for children and adults. It can be fun to dress up and be something completely different. It’s an opportunity to be creative and competitive. But it’s also one day of the year that brings attention to darkness, death, and fear – so let’s not forget about the opposites.

The opposites of darkness, death, and fear are pretty simple: Light, Life, and Love. As Christians, we are called to be the Light of the world. We believe in eternal Life because Jesus lives within us, and the most important commandment is to Love our neighbor.

But frankly, being a Christian is not always easy, and in fact, sometimes quite the opposite is true – it’s difficult. We know we should be patient but instead get frustrated when stressed or overwhelmed. We should forgive but instead blame because it’s quicker and makes us feel better, temporarily. We know Love is kind but find ourselves feeling angry when offended.

Fortunately, God is available to help when life gets difficult. God’s Word provides Light, forgiveness gives new Life, and Jesus was sent as the ultimate act of Love.

For Halloween this year, I want to dress up as something more powerful than myself, and I think my costume will need to be Patience. The treats I will pass out are Forgiveness and Kindness.

Praise Work: Look for an opportunity to bring Light, Life, and Love into the Halloween holiday. Also, take time to receive the Light, Life, and Love around you. When you see it, take a precious moment to acknowledge it, state that it comes from God, and thank God for its presence.

If you feel like you’re in a dark place, full of fear, or out of life, the truth is that Light, Life, and Love are closer than you think. Remembering that they are opposites will make all the difference.

Have a blessed week, KL