Father, first of all, I want to praise You for Your hand upon the last few days – You have brought us through. And I would ask that we would defer to You as we move forward. Our strength is found in You. Guide us and direct us along our way. Amen.
Luke 8:16-17 (<<click to read the passage)
I drive a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. I’m getting close to 170,000 miles on it, but it still runs well and really hasn’t given me too many problems since I got it.
If you look closely at my picture, you will notice that my headlights look different. As you can see the one is relatively clear whereas the other one is dull and cloudy. Some years ago, the bulb went out on the one and had to be replaced. When the mechanic did it, he accidentally broke part of it. Being their fault, they replaced the whole assembly – so, a bright and shiny new headlight!
Just a couple of years ago the other light blew and though I hoped I would have a similar outcome, alas it was not to be. A new bulb but the same old headlight.
As you might guess, the clear headlight shines much more brightly than the cloudy one.
So, that brings up the question, in light of today’s passage from Luke, how do I shine? Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV),
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
To keep my light shining brightly I must maintain an ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus. Remember He makes everything new when we are in relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul encourages us to,
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24 (NLT)
If I don’t maintain that relationship, things of this world can begin to affect how my light shines. The world inevitably begins to cloud over my light and unlike God, I begin to be less righteous and holy as He calls me to be. I become more and more ineffective in broadcasting the light I am given into the world.
When I typed in the phrase “You are the light of the world” on Google a song popped up that I haven’t sung in twenty years! When I served as a Children’s Pastor way back when, we sang several songs from Steve Green’s Hide ‘em in Your Heart album. It was a collection of children’s songs taken straight from the Bible. For your listening pleasure, here is a link to listen to You Are the Light of the World from Matthew 5:14 & 16!
“…let your light shine before others…!
Mar 15th, 2020, Sun, 7:26 pm
