92. Light
Luke 8:16-18
“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
Reflect
Jesus had just told a parable about a farmer sowing seed and explained it to his disciples. Through this parable we learned that we are to have faith in Jesus, firmly root ourselves in him, and keep our eyes fixed on him. If we do this, then over time our lives will produce much fruitfulness. Jesus continued, in this part of the story, by equating himself with light.
Through Jesus, nothing would be hidden and everything would be made known. Staying in the darkness wouldn’t be an option – so his listeners might as well walk into the light now, by hearing and responding to Jesus. And if they walked into the light, by hearing and responding, then they’d see everything that God had for them. They themselves would reflect his light. However, if they chose not to be open-minded, and if they chose not to hear and respond, then they’d end up with nothing.
As Christians, we want to live in the constant light of Jesus. We also want our lives to reflect his light into the darkness of the world around us – the darkness of people’s lives, relationships and the environment. We want our unfaithfulness, wickedness and indifferences exposed and brought into the light, and to be dealt with by Jesus. For many of us, who seem to constantly step back into darkness, it’ll mean we have to make a daily conscious decision to step back into his light.
Do
Today, you have a choice – to step into the light or remain in the darkness. Choose to hear and respond to the message of Jesus.
Pray
Holy God
I choose to step back into your light.
Forgive all the darkness that’s within me;
the thoughts, words and things
that have hurt you and have hurt others.
Shine your light into my life.
Expose my innermost thoughts
that there may be nothing that is left unseen,
and that I may reflect your light
into the darkness of the world around me.
This day and forever.
Amen.
Think
What does it mean practically, to reflect the light of Jesus into the darkness of people’s lives, relationships and the environment?