Be the Light
“Now no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a container [to hide it], or puts it under a bed; instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
Luke 8:16-18 (Amplified Bible)
I took a business class last week and in one of our small group sessions, one of my group mates posed a question that struck me to my core: who is losing because you are not winning? What they were essentially asking is how what you are withholding, compromises the success of others? Reeling from that question, I began writing this devotion.
In today’s scripture, God’s truth is referred to as a light. The foremost way that God’s truth is revealed is through His written word. The truth of who God is and who He has called us to be should radiate through us in a multitude of ways – how we speak, how we treat people (in times of comfort, convenience or conflict), how we use our gifts and talents, how we spend our money, how we spend our time, how we care for our bodies, how we manage our hearts & minds, how we use our voice, how we care for the poor, etc.
We live in a world that is tremendously individualistic and self-absorbed. We are encouraged to mostly focus on what we as individuals think, feel or perceive. While that is important, we as followers of Christ have a higher calling: to be others focused. Ok, follow me…God is light, and as image bearers, so are we (1 John 1:5, Matthew 5:14). When you are the light, your function is more for others than yourself. A lantern doesn’t burn for itself, it burns so that others can see their way. Truth will always be revealed, and one of our responsibilities as believers is to shine that truth – boldly and urgently. Holding back truth is like watching someone walk into a pitch-black room that they are unfamiliar with, unsure where to go and how to navigate the space – likely nervous or experiencing some type of fear, because being in the dark and not knowing where you are is dangerous. While there is a light available (YOU), you refuse to cut it on and willingly put people in danger. By simply allowing our light to shine, we have the ability to save people from harm’s way.
The latter part of today’s scripture tells us to take heed at how we hear. I believe we are admonished to do this because of the impact a radiating light has. We are responsible for spreading what we hear. A lamp may impact a few people, but if we are shining the way Christ has called us to (as a city on a hill – Matthew 5:14), our impact should be far reaching. How we hear dictates how we shine. If we hear with reception and conviction, it’s likely that we will be more intentional about allowing God’s truth to radiate through us in an uncompromised way. In addition to that, when we hear with pure hearts (hearts of good soil), then we will receive more revelation – more voltage to shine brighter and farther. However, there are a group of people who have deceived themselves to think they are shining brightly, but are not. God is so serious about His light, and the purpose of it that He will even strip the fantasy of light from people – it’s a misuse of His glory.
In the same class I referred to earlier, another group member told me that I throw my stone and hide my head. As I read today’s scripture, I realized that like many people, I have the tendency to shine in the ways that are easiest for me. While that’s a start, it’s not quite what we were called to. I have a 2-bulb light shade in my kitchen and one of the bulbs recently blew out. While I had the option to just rely on the one working bulb, I didn’t. I replaced the second bulb so that I can maximize the functionality of the light. It’s the same with us, we were created to shine fully, brightly and urgently!
REFLECT & RESPOND
· What ways do you compromise your light? Spend some time in prayer this week asking God to show you.
· Who is losing because you are hiding or compromising your light in some way?
· What ways do you know (or believe) you are supposed to be shining, but for some reason you hide?
· How have others benefitted from your relationship with Christ/how you shine your light? Get some people involved on this – ask them from their perspective.
· What do people believe about God as a result of how you live your life?
PRAY
Lord, you created me to shine brightly and fully. I ask that you would increase my boldness and cause me to be the city on a hill that you created me to be. Show me how you are calling me to shine. I repent for the ways in which I have hidden or compromised my light. Help me to live in the awareness of what is at stake when I cheapen my light. Help me to also remain aware of the weight and value of my light – it’s precious and I want to steward it well. I appreciate that you have given me such a beautiful gift – the gift of your truth. May my life yield glory that honors you and transforms others.
Amen.
