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Have you taken your Daily Step
Sometimes the step may be a long one, a leap even, however, life is still taken "One step at a time!"
Add one Godly thought a day and in a year you will have taken 365 steps closer to Him!
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Monday, March 26, 2007
"A Light for the World"
5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden;
5:15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
5:16 "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 NAS
Jesus used the nature of salt to give us insight into our true nature and now He turns to light for an example. The nature of salt is be salty, to preserve and make things taste good. Light has the property of illuminating things, making them visible and understandable (or at least bring them to our attention so that we can try to understand them.) It helps to keeps us from bumping our toes and heads. Jesus also makes reference to the fact that a city on a hill cannot be hidden.
In the ancient world kingdoms and realms were mostly city-states. The city served several purposes. It was usually strategically located in an area and housed the seats of government, centers of trade and culture resided there as well. The lands around the city were where agriculture and ranching took place and where those lived who tended field and flock. A second city function was defense.
Cities were usually on a hill or other fortifiable feature of the landscape. Walls and defenses were built around them. The enemy had to fight an uphill battle while you drop rocks and shot arrows down on them. Gravity was a wonderful tool of war. You could also see an enemy coming.
So, like the light you were seen by all and one could go to the city for safety. Like the light's revealing truth defends against our enemy darkness, the city also defended against our enemies.
Jesus tells us we are light and that light is not meant to be hidden away. In truth, your Christianity cannot be hidden. A person that is truly walking in the way will show it and usually without words. People will know.
Put the light on the lampstand. This does not mean you are on the lampstand to shine your own light, but His. This means for your own home as well as for the neighborhood.
The church is a place in the neighborhood where we gather to shine the light for each other and for the stranger that graces us with their presence. Once they light their lamp from ours they can join with us in illuminating the darkness around us and bringing hope and truth. We go there to recharge or relight our lights as well.
Copyright © 2007
Points to Ponder
1) Have you ever tried to walk around a house in the dark. Now imagine trying to walk in a strangers house or an unfamiliar park.
2) How can you hide your Christianity?
3) How does truth defend you?
4) How can your work glorify God?
5) What happens if we forget to shine for Jesus and do it for ourselves?
"Holy Spirit, shine upon me. Let me reflect Your rays into the darkness around me. May Your truth free me and defend against the enemy. May I shine with Your light for others so that they may find truth and life. To my family, my friends, and my neighbor let me be a light for truth. Amen."
Copyright © 2007
Email Pastor Leslie