Friday, June 27, 2014

A Beautiful Light and a God Glorifying Light

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

This week we have been talking about being the light that Jesus said we were to be to the world.  People are watching us so we need to be aware of our actions and the way we represent Jesus to them.  He wants His light to shine through us to the rest of the world.  His light is:

A Needed Light
A Reflected Light
A Visible Light
A Revealing Light
A Beautiful Light and a God Glorifying Light

In the verse above, the word used for "good" is not "agathos", but "kalos", which translates into good (Beautiful) works. 

Actions and attitudes in life that emanate from our new nature do not bring glory to man, but to God. These are the "reflection" of Christ. When Moses spent time with God his face "shone" so that others could see.  But he did not know it.  So the Christian may not realize that what he is doing is anything more than the natural following of his Lord.

There is no room for showiness or self-pride in the Christian as he reflects Christ. This is possible by realizing that the works that are being performed are not of ourselves but of Christ.  When a man steals the glory of the Christian life for his own glory, he destroys the real value of being light for Christ. It matters not whether or not those about you accept or even see you.  It is Christ that must shine.  It behooves the Christian to examine his life to discern how much of his life is lived under the control of God for His glory.

The cave once spoke to the sun and said, "I have no idea what light looks like".  The sun replied, "I have no idea what it is like to be in the dark."  So the cave invited the sun in to experience darkness.  Once the sun entered it said, "There is no darkness in here."  The cave then replied, "It is not dark when you are in here."  How wonderful it would be if our lives were like this to others as we become the "Dispellers of Darkness."

The Christian life is a life that is both influential and purposeful when lived under the control of God. It is precious to sing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine", but it is powerful to live it.
Remember that Jesus said, "You ARE the light of the world". We cannot stop the reflection of Christ on our lives.  We must shine for we ARE light.  We can do no less. We are the light of the world and not the light of the church.

What is dimming your light?  Impurity?  Compromise?  Fear?  Let the light of Christ dispel these elements of darkness in your heart.  He is the source of our hope.  We don’t have to stumble around in the darkness, groping for the next step.  We can trust Him and let His light dispel our own darkness and we can be the light to the world.

Scripture to Claim:

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:15-16

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