16 November 2008
This Little Light of Mine... (Part II)
November/17/2008 02:43 PM
We are to set our light to shine where others can see it. The more we shine, the more people see Jesus. This brings glory to our heavenly Father.
What does it mean to be a light in the darkness that surrounds us? Last week, we covered two ways to shine bright for Christ. The first way to light up our world is to live a pure life. The second way is to always speak the truth; letting God use our mouths to be a witness for Him to the lost.
The third way that we can shine is to be lovers and not judgers. We have already talked about speaking the truth, but Jesus always spoke the truth in love. He spoke patiently and lovingly to everyone He came in contact with. Jesus never called anyone a filthy sinner and he never spoke condemnation over someone. If we look carefully, we will notice that the religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, were the ones that Jesus spoke to the most harshly. Jesus read them like a book. He called them snakes, and white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones! They were pretending to be godly men, enforcing laws and regulations on others, while their own hearts were far away from God. These religious leaders knit picked and passed judgment on others in order to uphold traditions of man’s religion. It was all about rules and legalism, not about love. The Pharisees and Sadducees had a lot of head knowledge, but lived hypocritical lives. They couldn’t live up to the standards that they held others to. They were the blind leading the blind deeper into darkness.
People need love, patience and compassion, not judgment. Part of the answer is speaking to sinners in love, not speaking down to them. Instead of pointing out all of their sins, which they already know, we can point out how precious and valuable they are to God. They are so priceless that Jesus was sent to take their punishment and provide every blessing they will ever need. They don’t have to be perfect to come to God. When they come to Father God, He will perfect them and make their lives into something beautiful!
Jesus loved sinners. He befriended them and spent time with them. He sat down and ate meals with them. Jesus didn’t become like a sinner when He was around them, rather He brought light and hope to them. I believe, the ungodly were drawn to Jesus and His words because his words were saturated with prayer and motivated by love.
In Matthew 9: 10-13, there is an account where Jesus entered a house and sat down for dinner with a big group of sinners. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to the disciples, “Why does your master eat and fellowship with publicans and sinners?”
In verses 12-13 ,upon hearing this, Jesus said, “ It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means; ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
When was the last time we took somebody out for lunch or even invited a family for dinner that isn’t saved? Ouch. My heart has been squeezed! We are always eating and fellowshipping with other Christians. Christian fellowship is good, but have we overlooked a key to the ministry of Jesus?
Where does our light shine the brightest? Does it shine brighter in a room that’s already well lit, or in a dark room? The lost are stumbling around because they are in the dark. Many are most comfortable in the dark because that’s all they know. When you shine the light and expose their darkness, you may get a reaction! Sometimes the light hurts their eyes so badly that they reject you. If this happens, don’t lose heart, you are planting a seed of light in their lives. Keep praying, loving and planting seeds. Others will come and plant and more will water. Sometimes, you will shine your light on someone who is tired of the darkness and ready to step into the light. What an awesome privilege to lead someone into the light! In either case, you are letting your light shine and bringing glory to your heavenly father!
Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine………..
kimconnor@whwc.org
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