Light that changes lives

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:33–36)

In context, Jesus seems to be talking about Himself and the light that He sheds, but other passages use these terms to tell the disciples to shine the light He gives them so it might be seen or experienced by others. At the same time, His words indicate that the light we have must be pure. If there is sin present, then it becomes dark or untrue or hidden. Others cannot see truth in the way that I live if I don’t live according to the light that Christ gives me.

This is not a guarantee that if I live it, they will see it. Jesus lived a perfect life and they missed it. Even the reality of His resurrection was not discerned by their dark eyes.
This is logical. Our light depends on the reality of His eternal life:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12–14)

This passage goes on to say, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19)

Whatever light God has given depends on this one truth. If Jesus was not raised, then I have nothing to tell people that is powerful for them. Living a good life means nothing. Even answered prayer can be called a ‘coincidence’ by those who hear such things. Key to believing the gospel is the reality of the resurrection, not my light or the light shone by all the godly living of all His saints. It may get the attention of those who want a better life for themselves, yet if that light is perceived only as something I’m doing apart from the living Lord Jesus, they are still in the dark. Paul knew this, which is why he wrote: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

And Lord Jesus, if my testimony is about me and what I have done and what I believe, and full of me, me, me, then I am not shining — a huge part is the dark when I foolishly rob God of His glory by telling others what I did or in any way make the gospel about me. That is a huge lack of discernment about the real needs of others, and even boasting or hypocrisy on my part. Shame on me. 

 

 

Light in my life!

 

My studio (desk and quilting space) is in the basement with one window. My hubby’s den where he works from home is on the north side. It has a window but short winter days mean less light. To overcome the dimness in both spaces, we had LED lights installed. They are flat, round and about 12” across, set on the highest of five levels which is equal to daylight. With light like that, we both feel as if we are working outside in the sunshine.

Light is powerful. Sunshine not only gives warmth and life but also light in what would be a dark, cold place without it. The same could be said even more of Jesus who shines beyond the sun: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)

Today’s devotional says that the sun cannot be without its brightness or separated from its light, nor can God be separated from the glory of Jesus Christ. God has never been without Him, or He without the Father, yet as the brightness of the sun is not the sun, the glory of Christ is not the fullness of all that God is — in that He limited Himself by becoming a man.

Though he was in the form of God, (Jesus) did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6–8)

My mind cannot grasp how this works. God remains God yet He became a babe to grow to an adult who lived here and died here, rising from the dead to bring us the light we need so that we do not ever need to walk in the darkness of sin and unbelief. This is utterly amazing.

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

As the radiance of God’s glory, Christ can transmit that light into our lives so we can radiate the glory of God to a dark world. This has always been His plan. In the OT, He said:

I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations. (Isaiah 42:6)

It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)

Then Jesus came, first to bring that same light to us. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4–5) Yet He knew we needed to grab hold of His light, allow it to be ‘installed’ in us and then keep it turned on:

Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35)

The devotional writer adds that the term “exact imprint” from Hebrews 1:3 to describe Christ’s relationship to God’s nature is associated with an impression reproduced on a seal by a die or a stamp. This means Jesus Christ is the perfect, personal imprint of God in time and space, the same God who spoke (the Word) and light was produced in the void of darkness. Amazing!

Jesus Christ is the full expression of God and the exact reproduction of God’s nature in human history. He can come into the lives of sinners and give us light to see and know God. He is the source of spiritual life and His light gives purpose, meaning, peace, joy, and fellowship with Him forever.

PRAY: Jesus, You are the light of my life. I’m deeply affected by all that You are and all that You shine into my mind and heart. You gave up all that You are to become a human person so that You could shed light into our dark world and into our dark and separated-from-You hearts. Because of You, I can walk in the light of life, a light that is overwhelmingly bright.

PONDER: Read 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 and pray for light in the lives of those who are unable to see the wonder of Jesus.

 

 

Let my little light shine . . .

The story has been told that a group of pastors in Charlotte, North Carolina, prayed that God would raise up a man in their city who would change the world. It was not long after that Billy Graham was born. I’m not positive of the story but I do know that most of my prayers are too small. Do I fully realize the will of God and the power of God? Do I dare pray for amazing changes in this world?

This morning I read a part of Ephesians where Paul says a little about his calling to serve God. He makes no boast; this calling was God’s doing . . .

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Ephesians 3:4–12)

The Gospel is a revealed reality. Those who are not interested or have not responded have not had the Holy Spirit give them the grace and power to believe. While I fully realize sinners have a responsibility to pay attention and to respond, I also know that God does not give His truth to those who will spurn it. In great love, He works with us where we are.

Paul says his calling was a gift of grace. His words remind me of an Old Testament verse where God is quoted:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

In biblical history, God takes one man. It was Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah and the other prophets,  each in their era, each given to be His man for that time. The Lord isn’t into committees! He reveals truth to those He calls to serve Him so, as Paul says, His wisdom might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. These are terms used for the demonic forces of evil. Through one who influences many, He is showing His power, a power that was fully realized in the life of One Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Aside from the Savior, did any of these men have an ambition to change the world? Nothing is said about that. Most of them suffered. Noah was ridiculed. Abraham had to leave home. Moses was challenged repeatedly as were the others. They were not perfect people but they were given a task and faithfully followed through.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, we have good leaders in today’s church (and some not so good), yet no one stands out as being a world-changer, a voice that speaks for God in the chaos of our day. As my heart was exercised to pray that You will again raise up someone to speak for You, someone who will be strong against the opposition, someone with the character and boldness required to catch the ears of those now deaf to the Word of God, I began to think of another verse, the one that says, “You are the light of the world . . .” God, Your church is supposed to shine like a light in a dark place just as those men. We are called to represent You in this world, to be Spirit-filled people who are powerful in word, in actions and in humility. I need to be like that. I feel so small and this is a big prayer. May I never forget that You are a big God.

Today’s thankful list . . .

A time of prayer with others who feel burdens to pray.

A good workout at the gym.

A much-needed nap after a snack.

Hubby home early from work.

His blood tests are stable yet far from normal and a complete mystery to his doctors as he is so healthy.

Corn on the cob and a case of peaches.

My new phone — it almost makes tea!