We Are The Light!

Matthew 5:14 (ESV)  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

In giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus enlightens us on the reality of discipleship. Not just in church, but in the everyday world. Jesus shares piercing metaphors to illustrate the impact that the disciples will have on the world around them. In a world full of darkness, we are the light!

Jesus follows the statement above by saying, “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.”  Matthew 5:15 (ESV) The typical la

mp in a Jewish home was fairly small and was placed on a stand to give maximum illumination throughout the dwelling. As believers who have the light within ourselves, we should make every effort to let it shine to its maximum potential for those around us; for those in the world who do not yet have the light.

I’ve found in my own life that just like a lamp, I can choose to let the light shine or turn it off. It is up to me to make that decision daily. What will you do with your light each day this week? Will you put it under a basket, or will you put it on a stand and let it shine?

Let your light shine this week!

Shawn

What Does it Mean to Trust?

Joshua 6:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.

The people of Israel were reveling in the spoils of victory.  Having conquered Jericho, they were now on their way toward possessing what God had given.  And what a victory it was!  You see, Israel didn’t win the battle because of their ingenuity or strength.  Their victory was born out of their trust.  Such is the way of all who follow Him.  The prophet said “…not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” Zech. 4:6    It’s an important lesson. God brings the victory.  We bow in dependence.  And then comes Gods words, “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction…” In other words, God is saying, don’t cling to what I have purposed for calamity and don’t value what I despise.

Have you ever found yourself clinging to something God has told you to cut out?  I have.  Bad habits, wrong relationships, destructive decisions; all one has to do is take a passing glance at my life to see that I’m no stranger to the struggle.  But you know, it never turns out well.  He says, “…lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it”.  Ouch!  What’s the end result of keeping what God says to cut out?  You guessed it, “trouble”!  You don’t want trouble in your life?  Trust Him.  In other words, depend on His instruction and do what He tells you to do.  Trust means, following God’s lead without knowing where; expecting a miracle without knowing how; waiting for God’s timing without knowing when; trusting God’s purpose without understanding why.   Gang, in this you will never be disappointed!  Follow the instruction of the Lord and leave the where, how, when, and why to Him!.

God bless you.

Shane