What are you filled with? What are your thoughts about? What is your guide for your thoughts, attitude, and behavior? Is it crassness, disregard, and a hardened heart? Or is it compassion, a softened heart, and love? Do you know whether it is darkness or light?
We all are guided by one thing or another. Our guide may change depending on our situation. We may discard notions out of hand in some situations or hold them dearly in others. But do we know what is behind our behaviors, decisions, and actions?
We know from numerous research surveys and observances that our upbringing and culture have a significant impact on what we deem to be right and our behavior. Principles that we live by are often instilled at a young age. We also know it is difficult to change once we are beyond adolescence. But it is not impossible.
Who can change us? Jesus can. What does it take to change? Determination. Often it requires us to hit rock bottom to decide to change. However, there are wise people who see the path they are headed down, know where it is headed, and change before they hit rock bottom.
When Jesus speaks of the light within us being darkness, He is speaking of evil. He knows that it is evil that causes our bad attitudes, behaviors, and actions. He tells us that we need His light within us to eliminate the darkness. It works in the same way that lighting a lamp in a dark room dispels the darkness. We should consider accepting the light of Jesus in our lives so He can rid us of the darkness that lives within. It is only by accepting Him into our lives that we can be the light of the world He has called us to be.
I pray we all look internally and identify the light within us. I pray we decide to rid ourselves of any darkness. I pray we ask Jesus to fill us with His light and shine His light into this world. Rid yourself of darkness. Ask Jesus to fill you. Be a light to the world. Shine Jesus’ light everywhere.
Luke 11:35-36 “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Marty Pressey 