Light Fixture

Light Fixture

2 Corinthians 4: ³ For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. ⁴ They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. ⁵ For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ The God who said, “Out of darkness the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.

 

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Entering the dark room at night posed more of a challenge than I thought. After the move, nothing was organized. Boxes were everywhere and so was furniture. I had plugged in a light, but it was not connected to a light switch. I tripped on something hard and fell on unpacked stuff. I finally made it to the light. I switched it on and could see the mess.

 

• The light was placed where it was.
• The light was useful when it was shining.
• The light could not warn me of obstacles when it was switched off.

 

Paul speaks about Satan blinding the minds of people. Satan wants to keep people from seeing the true light so he attack’s the mind. GOD, on the other hand, placed the HOLY SPIRIT in the heart of believers. The only job for the believer is to be a light fixture.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to shine the light HE provided in the middle of the darkness.
• GOD wants me to keep HIS light shining in me so those around me will not stumble over obstacles.
• GOD wants me to preach JESUS CHRIST as LORD of my life in a way that people can hear.

 

Sometimes I think I have to do a lot of activity to please GOD. I mean, I think I have to serve on several committees, argue about the Bible, give until it hurts and cry when GOD is not meeting “my” expectations. BUT GOD feels different. HE said “MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

 

He simply wants me to praise HIM for what HE did for me in the middle of my problems. HE also wants me to be thankful for “everyone” around me, even those who I have been bitter towards for years. Shining GOD’s light happens on everyone, even myself. I’m talking about forgiveness. I am glad GOD gave the gift of light to anyone who will accept it.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever felt GOD needs you to work hard?
• What does the writer say about the source of “the light?”
• Will you relax and simply “be”, so that GOD’s light can shine in you and through you today?

Easy to Believe

Luke 11: ⁴⁵ Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

⁴⁶ And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. ⁴⁷ Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸ In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ ⁵⁰ that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

⁵² “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

⁵³ And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, ⁵⁴ lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.

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“All you need to do is believe that JESUS died for your sins and is raised from the dead” someone told me. It was very exciting to hear. I was so excited that I wanted to do more. I read about GOD, sang about HIM and attended gatherings about HIM regularly.

But when it was my turn to tell someone about HIM I gave them my list. “Go to church, give when it hurts, stop sinning and study only the Bible.”

• There were times when I added hurdles to getting to GOD.
• There were times when I added steps to getting to GOD.
• There were times when I had people do things I could not even accomplish.

JESUS blasts the lawyers of the church for holding people to a standard they could not keep. HE saw through their controlling methods that forced people to look at GOD as impossible to please. HE said the blood of the prophets will fall on those who hinder the kingdom.

• GOD wants me to know that a relationship with GOD is “free” in spite of what blind greedy people will say.
• GOD wants me to know HE took care of everything in spite of the messages that make people “try harder.”
• GOD wants me to know that HIS power is permanent in spite of my thoughts that my sin is greater than HIS grace.

Adding burdens to JESUS’s salvation is probably one of the largest crimes GOD will remember. HE wants me to give a simple message that HE loves HIS creation and the worthiness of the relationship comes from HIM. Since HE said “MY grace is sufficient” then is all I need.

• What burdens are you putting on others in order for them to “believe” in GOD?
• Do you think your rigor is a standard for which others should meet?
• Can you stop adding “your” burdens on others and give them a simple message of HIS love today?

Herbs and Spices

Mark 4: ³⁰ Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; ³² but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

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“You should learn this new way of doing things” exclaimed one of my coworkers. Yes, the world had changed and a new way of thinking had emerged. I now had to go on a new road and learn. “I wonder when this road will change” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I get busy chasing new philosophies.
• Sometimes I get entrenched into learning new ways of doing things.
• Sometimes I get involved with new thinking, new values and new beliefs.

Out with the old and in with the new was my way to stay ahead of the crowd. I would learn new ingredients to success by attending philosophical discussions and grab a new herb of knowledge. Many birds would flock with me to these spicy meetings. BUT GOD had another plan for me.

• GOD says to me “Tell people about the simple message of MY love for them.”
• GOD says to me “MY kingdom’s message is simple, just believe that JESUS died for all of mankind and you will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “MY yoke is easy and MY burdens are light.”

What a tiny seed GOD gave me. I mean HIS message of grace far exceeds any new herb and spice I could ever learn. In fact, GOD’s message of grace grows in me and in the hearts of mankind stronger than any other way of thinking. Branches of joy, love, forgiveness and peace flow from this simple message of HIS grace. GOD’s message is simple, HE loves me.

• Are you busy trying to learn the “new” thing?
• Do you think the new way of thinking will save you?
• Can you turn your thinking towards GOD for a moment and absorb the simple message of HIS love for you?