SHARING BREAD
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone
in the house. 16 In
the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matt
5:14-16 (NIV)
Believers are to let the light of Jesus within them shine
forth - first for our households and next for our worlds – our spheres of
influence. We are to be both illustrious
and conspicuous – signs and symbols from the Lord to the lost and
perishing. The Treasure within us should
ever illuminate our countenance – we are to be known as a light radiating
people. Jesus came as the Light of the
world so that those who would believe in Him would never walk in darkness but
have the light of life. Our Lord tells
us in John:
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)
His Light within us gives direction to others - pointing them
to the proper path – to the way – which is, of course, Jesus. Jesus tells us:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
We must endeavor to walk circumspectly - as wise not as foolish
- because of our observers. It is
important how one lives their life. Sadly, many Christians live no differently
than the unbelievers Jesus desires for us to reach. If the Lord Jesus makes no difference in our
lives, why would anyone else be interested?
Are we a reflection of His goodness and mercy and humility
and kindness and gentleness and patience?
Are we, as believers, winsome and wooing as Jesus – drawing others to
Him through our actions rather than repelling them by our words and deeds? The candle lit by the Lord Jesus should never
be hidden under a bowl but allowed to shine forth. We must be burning and shining lights in the
way we live – not muffling the message by obscurity and privacy. The Bible does not speak of a solitary and
private faith. Paul states it frankly in
1 Corinthians:
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with
your body. 1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV)
“The
Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” John
Wesley
Peter adds the following Truth, exhorting his readers to
practice holiness and declare God’s eminent Excellencies and Virtues:
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
“Be examples in
all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your life may
preach among all sorts of people.” George Fox
“To
be like Christ. That is our goal, plain
and simple.” Charles Swindoll
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus
did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
It is to our Father’s glory and for our good that we bear
much fruit showing ourselves to be the Lord Jesus’ disciples. Jesus states in our verses for today that our
deeds must be evident so that those who observe us will praise our Father in
heaven. God’s glory being the great
thing we aim for in all that we say or
do.
“Though salvation is not by the works of the law, yet the
blessings which are promised to obedience are not denied to the faithful
servants of God. The curses our Lord
took away when He was made a curse for us, but no clause of blessing has been
abrogated. We are to note and listen to
the revealed will of the Lord, giving our attention not to portions of it but
to ‘all these words.’ There must be no
picking and choosing but an impartial respect to all that God has commanded. This is the road of blessedness for the Father
and for His children. The Lord’s
blessing is upon His chosen to the third and fourth generation. If they walk uprightly before Him, He will
make all men know that they are a seed which the Lord has blessed.” Charles
H. Spurgeon
What
I glean from this:
· I am to let the light of Jesus within me shine
forth.
· I am to point others to the proper path which is
Jesus.
· My words and deeds are to bring God much glory.
