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Let Your Light Shine

1/24/2016

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

In John 8:12, Jesus refers to Himself as "the light of the world”. Here in the Sermon on the Mount, He tells us that we are and that we are to be - “the light of the world”.

How awesome that we should be likened to and called to the task of our Savior by our Savior Himself! What an awesome responsibility we have been given!

Yes, in the words of Jesus Himself, we are "the light of the world”. We have been created and called to do the work of Christ. God put us here to be lights for all of the world to see; to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of this world.

We have the light of Christ inside of us by the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus lives within us and His light shines in us and through us. We reflect on the outside who is living on the inside - Jesus!

We have been called to put our light on a lamp stand; to let that light shine like a torch - like a lighthouse; a brilliant, radiant beacon shining through the darkness to lead others to the love and protection that is found in Jesus Christ.

When we shine our light, that shining light represents Jesus Christ. When we “represent” Jesus, we “re-present” Him to others; that is, we present His love to the world once again! When we shine forth the light of Christ, others will be attracted to the very same Savior that we represent.

Light always dispels the darkness - and darkness can never extinguish the light (cf. John 1:5). So let your light shine to brighten the lives of others and give glory to God!

Shine On!

Lord Jesus, may Your light shine in us and through us so that we may reflect Your light and Your love to those in darkness. In Your name we pray, Amen. †

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A Firm Foundation

1/17/2016

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“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

Jesus brings His Sermon on the Mount to a close with this parable of The Two Houses. Here Jesus calls us to decide between Himself and any other foundation upon which to build our life.

The house in the parable represents our life. During the course of our life, we will encounter many trials and struggles. When our life is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, our Rock, we will not be shaken. We will have the confidence to know that we can endure any storm that life may bring.

Wise people build upon the solid bedrock of Jesus regardless of the ever-changing, religious and cultural views of today’s post-modern world. Though the rains will fall and the floods will come; though the winds will blow and beat upon them, they will not fall because they have built upon the Rock. (cf. Matthew 7:24-25)

Fools build upon the sand of the ever-shifting, unstable earthly foundation of this world and not upon the firm foundation of the Word of Christ. When the rains fall and the floods come; when the winds blow and beat upon them, they will certainly fall - and the fall will be devastating. (cf. Matthew 7:26-27)

When we listen to Jesus and obey His Word; when we not only hear but act and put His Word into practice, we build upon Him as the bedrock - the firm foundation that upholds us. Nothing will be able to move us from that foundation! We are kept safe on the solid foundation of Christ - no matter how hard the storms of life beat against us!

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2 ESV)

Lord Jesus, You are our rock and our refuge. You are our strength and our fortress. You are the firm foundation we choose to build our lives upon. In Your name we pray, Amen. †

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A Sound Investment

1/9/2016

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“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)

Some of us may remember the old E.F. Hutton television commercial which depicted a person in a crowded room discussing the financial advice their investment broker had given them: "My broker is E.F. Hutton and he says..." Upon saying that, the entire room stopped talking to listen. The intent of the commercial was to portray E.F. Hutton as the investment broker who gives the best investment advice. Their slogan was: "When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen".

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus gives us investment advice beyond the scope of E.F. Hutton or any other advisor - and we should all stop to listen. Jesus tells us not to invest in that which we cannot keep but, rather, to invest in that which we cannot lose.

When we invest in earthly treasures we do not become spiritually rich. The dividends and rewards of earthly investments are fleeting; they come and go - and net a loss in the end. Our unused wealth cannot be stored forever. Eventually, upon our death, all earthly treasure will be lost. On the other hand, when we store up our treasures in Heaven, we reap everlasting benefits that cannot be lost; benefits that will never be taken away.

Our attentions and devotion are given to our treasures. If our treasures are in heaven, then our commitment will be there as well.

We have a choice to make between doing that which leads to greater earthly reward in the present or doing that which stores up greater future reward in Heaven. The reward in Heaven is everlasting life - can your investment broker offer that? If your investment broker is Jesus - Yes, He can!

Lord Jesus, guide us to make sound investments with the talents You have given to us. Bless us with the wisdom to make the right choices. In Your name we pray, Amen. †

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