Let Your Light Shine

How often have you thought about light? Do you think about it only when you are in a dark room and decide to turn the light on? Do you think about being a light yourself? Why or why not? Do you think about spreading the light of Jesus wherever you go?

We know inherently that light dispels darkness. We can go into any dark room, turn on a light, and immediately the darkness disappears. Yet, we often do this absentmindedly. We don’t think about it. We take it for granted. Perhaps we should consciously think about it.

For those of us who are believers, we have the light of Jesus in us. We can shine that light into a dark world every moment of every day. Yet, too often, we choose to keep that light turned off. Whether it is out of fear that we will be ostracized by friends or family or some other reason, we hide it. But showing the light of Jesus does not require us to always speak His name to others.

We can show the light of Jesus through our attitude toward others, in both good and bad situations, and the general way we talk. It is by showing His light in these ways that others become curious and ask how we can be so positive or calm or steady, which presents an opportunity to tell them who keeps us in such a state. We must first show the light of Jesus, then witness about Him when the opportunity arises. This is how we draw people to Jesus and to the church.

I pray we decide to show the light of Jesus every moment of every day. I pray we choose to allow the light of Jesus to shine through us. I pray each one of us will tell others about Jesus when the opportunity arises, bringing them into relationship with Him. Show the light of Jesus. Allow the light to shine through you. Tell others about Jesus.

Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Salt of the Earth

What comes to mind when you hear the term salty? Do you think of someone who is colorful or offensive or condescending? If you have heard that term used for someone, one of those descriptive words just may come to mind. Have you used that term for someone or yourself?

Sailors will often call someone who is higher in rank salty, especially the enlisted sailors. It not only means all those descriptive words mentioned above but also means they are experienced and wise. It comes from the idea that they have crossed a lot of sea water.

We are to be salty but in a different kind of way. Salt adds flavor, it seasons food. It preserves as well. Long before there was refrigeration, salt was used to preserve meat. Ever heard of salt pork? But if salt had lost its properties to flavor or preserve food, it was of no use anymore other than to be thrown in the street to make the path smoother.

If we are to be the salt of the earth, we cannot lose the properties that preserve and add flavor. We are to spread the message of Jesus, thereby both adding flavor to the world and preserving it. Telling others about Jesus will enhance their lives, even if they initially reject the message. Showing them Jesus through our actions and behavior will make their lives better, even if they don’t recognize it. If they do accept the message of Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior, they are preserved by gaining eternal life with Him. So, be the salt of the earth.

I pray we all spread the message of Jesus. I pray we show Jesus to others through our actions and behavior. I pray each one of us will hold onto our faith in Jesus and be the salt of the earth. Tell others about Jesus. Show others Jesus in your behavior. Hold onto your faith. Be the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.”

Weak and Despised

Thinking too highly of ourselves is problematic. It can lead to pride, pride that is based on a house of cards. When that house falls, it can be catastrophic. Most of us were not born with a silver spoon in our mouth. We do not come from royalty. We are common, working-class people.

Since we are not of noble birth, we have no reason to think of ourselves as better than others. It is a fine line between being confident in our abilities and being prideful. The only way we can walk that fine line is to remember that it is by God’s grace that we have our abilities.

The Apostle Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us, that is God who has chosen us and is working through us. It is in God that we should boast. We are to give him the credit for our abilities. We should thank him for blessing us with them. And we should be confident in God rather than ourselves.

When Paul says God has chosen the foolish to shame the wise, it does not mean that we will see that in this lifetime. Paul is referring to Jesus’ return, when the wise of this world who did not believe in Jesus will be put to shame. For anyone who believes in Jesus, who decides to follow Him, will be proven to be wise. Though being weak and despised in this world, perhaps being called foolish for their belief, they will be given a crown of glory. Therefore, hold on to your faith, be humble before God, and thank him for your blessings.

I pray we all give up our pridefulness. I pray we humble ourselves before God. I pray each one of us praise God for his wonderful grace and thank him for blessing us with our abilities. Give up pride. Humble yourself before God. Praise God for his grace. Thank God for his blessings.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

Foolishness of the World

Have you noticed that God sometimes does things the opposite of what we think he should do? Have you heard that Jesus turned the world upside down? Is it because God enjoys toying with us or we fail to fall in line with God? Do we think we are too good to follow God?

Jesus turned the world on its head in many ways. He served the poor, healed the sick, raised the dead, and hung out with sinners. He instructed us to be humble, be a servant, share with the poor, take care of widows and orphans, and wrapped it all up with love.

The world tells us to chase our dreams, pursue riches, seek a promotion, ignore the helpless, and honor the rich and famous. The world teaches selfishness while Jesus teaches selflessness. The world teaches pridefulness while Jesus teaches humbleness. The world teaches hording while Jesus teaches sharing. The world teaches being served while Jesus teaches to serve.

God has used what is foolish in human minds to be wisdom in his. He has made the wisdom of the world foolishness. As the world chases after power and riches, God has shown us that being satisfied with what we have is a blessing. The wisdom of the world says no one can be raised from the dead, yet God raised Jesus on the third day. It is through the foolishness of believing in the resurrection that we acquire the wisdom of God.

We have a choice to make. We can continue to chase the foolishness of the world, or we can accept the wisdom of God. Following the wisdom of the world is foolishness according to God. It is only by putting our faith in Jesus that we gain eternal life and begin to learn the wisdom of God.

I pray we all choose to let go of the foolishness of the world. I pray we choose the wisdom of God. I pray each one of us will believe in Jesus, putting our faith in Him, and gain eternal life. Choose God’s wisdom. Believe in Jesus. Put your faith in Jesus. Gain eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe.

Foolishness or Power

What is foolishness to you? Is it someone acting silly? Is it someone doing something that is both dangerous and unnecessary? Have you thought that foolishness may be different for different folks? Is Jesus going to the cross to save the world foolishness to you?

Foolishness comes in many forms and can be judged so in the eye of the beholder. Some would say it is foolishness to repel down a rocky cliff that stand five-hundred feet high. Others might say foolishness is attempting to swim the English Channel. Still others will equate it to something someone says.

The Apostle Paul says there are people in this world who believe the message of Jesus going to the cross is foolishness. He also states they are perishing. What does that mean? It means they will not inherit an eternal life with God but will be forever separated from him, which will be eternal torment. Yet, Paul says the message of the cross is the power of God which saves us. And for those of us being saved, we see the power of God in the cross.

But I wonder if we do see the power of God in the cross? If we are trying to earn our way to heaven, we do not. If we believe that God will send us away empty handed if we disobey, we do not. The power of the cross is that our sins are destroyed. They are wiped out. And lest we forget, by going to the cross, Jesus demonstrated the abundant love God has for us. Since God loves us more than we can comprehend, we can trust that he will never abandon us and will always provide for us. Are there consequences for sin? Yes. But God never turns his back on us.

I pray we all see the power of God in the message of the cross. I pray we know that our sins are destroyed. I pray each one of us knows that God loves us more than we can comprehend. See the power of the cross. Your sins are destroyed. God loves you. Trust him in all things.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Seek the Lord

If you could have only one thing in life, what would it be? Is there a singular goal you are working toward? Do you have a plan to achieve that goal? Are there other people who are helping you achieve it? Are you focusing on material things this world has to offer?

We chase many goals during our lifetimes. Our goals as children are different than when we are young adults. As we grow older, our goals change. Where we might have the goal of purchasing a home when we are young, we focus more on preparing for retirement as we age.

The psalmist says there is only one thing he is asking of God. His number one goal is to live with God. He wants to observe and be in awe of the beauty of God and to meet him in his temple. He had a heart’s desire to be with God all the time. Can you imagine what that type of desire would be like? How would that change your life?

Having a desire to be with God all the time does not mean we don’t live our lives. It means we have God right there at the front of our mind. We think about him all day. We make decisions based on how we believe he wants us to make them. We view others as God views them—his children. We choose to follow his commands. We choose to follow Jesus’ example. We show mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love to others. Imagine how the world would change if every professed believer in Jesus would make being with God their top priority.

I pray we all seek to be with God every day. I pray we keep God at the front of our mind as we go through our daily lives. I pray each one of us follow Jesus’ example as we interact with others. Seek God today. Seek God every day. Keep God at the front of your mind. Follow Jesus’ example.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I asked of the Lord; 

this I seek: 

to live in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life, 

to behold the beauty of the Lord, 

and to inquire in his temple.

Light and Protector

Who is the light of your life? Is it your spouse? Is it your parents? Is it you children? Who do you lean on when you need strength. Is it any of those some people? Or is it someone else? Or do you think you can handle it all on your own? Will you turn to the One who can truly help?

We hear people say a specific person is the light of their life. We may say it ourselves. Or, if we don’t say it, we think it or know in our hearts it is true. There are people in our lives we know we can count on, whether in good times or bad times. We know they will never desert us.

Having people in our lives we can count on is important. Yet there are many people who will desert us. They will support us as long as it doesn’t cost them anything more than encouraging words. When it requires them to invest their time, effort, and money, they abandon us. We have someone who will never abandon us and offers us more than anyone can—Jesus Christ.

The Psalmist points to God as his savior. He states that God is his light and salvation. The imagery is of someone wandering in the darkness and God is the light that dispels the darkness so we can see. Imagine being in a pitch-black cave with no light. When a light is turned on, we can then see the pathway. The one who brings the light is our savior. Our fear of being left in the darkness is relieved and replaced with hope.

The Psalmist continues by stating God is his stronghold, meaning a fortress, shield, protector. He is not afraid because he trusts that God will protect him from evil forces. We, too, can be unafraid. We, too, can trust God as our protector. When we trust Jesus to guide us through the darkness and to protect us from evil, our fears disappear. The more we trust Jesus and see the results of doing so, the more we will trust Jesus. Trust builds upon trust, increasing our faith.

I pray we all look to Jesus as our light who guides us each day. I pray we trust Jesus to protect us from evil. I pray each one of us increases our faith as we experience the trustworthiness of Jesus. Jesus is our Light. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our Protector. Trust in Jesus. Increase your faith.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; 

whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; 

of whom shall I be afraid?

Known Before Birth

Have you considered that you were born for a specific purpose? Do you feel as though you are fulfilling that purpose? Do you believe others are born for a purpose? Or do you think everything is random with no specific design in mind?

There are many who believe it is purpose that keeps us alive and moving. Purpose energizes us. When we have purpose, we focus and diligently work toward it. Without purpose, we can become depressed, feel worthless, and become lethargic.

Jesus was born for a purpose. We know that before He was born, the angel Gabriel told Mary who He would be. Perhaps Mary didn’t fully grasp what was said, but some two-thousand years later we understand it. Perhaps Mary finally understood after the death, burial, and resurrection. Maybe then all the pieces fell into place.

The prophet Isaiah prophesies of the coming Messiah. He states that He was known by God while still in the womb. Isaiah goes on to prophesy the Messiah would be rejected by His own people and that He would be the light to all the nations. Isaiah was prophesying the Messiah would be the salvation of the Gentiles. The Jewish Rabbis agreed that Isaiah 49 was a prophecy about the Messiah.

Looking at Isaiah’s prophecy from the New Testament, we see how Jesus fulfilled it, and Isaiah prophesied correctly. We can also see that Isaiah was prophesying about all of us, in that God knows us before we are born and that each of us are born for a purpose.

I pray we all seek to understand the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. I pray we review the prophecies of the Old Testament. I pray each one of us knows we are known by God before we are born. Understand prophecy. Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Review the prophecies. You are known by God.

Isaiah 49:1: 

Listen to me, O coastlands; 

pay attention, you peoples from far away! 

The LORD called me before I was born; 

while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.

Also Known As

Do you know someone by a nickname? Is there someone you know who answers to a call sign? Is there another name you answer to? How many nicknames or call signs do you answer to? Do you have a title or rank that you answer to? Have you thought about their meaning?

We may not think about it, but we answer to a variety of names, nicknames, call signs, titles, or ranks. Some are terms of endearment such as honey, babe, or sweets. Some are shortened versions of our name. Some are titles for a position we hold or military ranks. We answer to all of them.

Jesus was no different. There were many names or titles for Him including Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Messiah, Christ, Morning Star, and … Lamb of God. What comes to mind when you think of the title Lamb of God?

For the Jews of the first century, Lamb of God would have brought several images to mind. They would think of the Passover lamb, lamb led to slaughter, sacrificial lamb, triumphant lamb, lamb provided by God, and guilt offering. Jesus encompassed all of these with the title Lamb of God. John the Baptist recognized and proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God. Do we?

We don’t think much about sacrificing a lamb to God today. At most, we hear reference to it when studying the Old Testament. Therefore, it can be difficult for us to fully understand the cost of that sacrifice. Perhaps the closest we can come to it is if we have had to skip meals to allow our children to eat or thinking of someone running into a burning building to rescue another, and the one who ran into the building does not make it back out though they did save the one trapped. Jesus came into creation to sacrifice Himself so we might have eternal life with God. Amazing beyond comprehension!

I pray we know the various names that Jesus is known by. I pray we understand the meaning of those names. I pray each one of us are amazed that Jesus would step into creation to sacrifice Himself for us. Know Jesus’s alternate names. Know their meaning. Be amazed by Jesus’ sacrifice.

John 1:35-36 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

Baptism Emotions

Have you wished there was a sign that indicated the right person? Have you ever flown into an airport and had someone pick you up? Did you have search for the person giving you a ride? Did you mistakenly think the wrong vehicle was theirs? Did you become frustrated?

Having flown more times for business than I would like to count, getting rides to and from rental car lots and parking lots can be frustrating. I have waited for fifteen to twenty minutes for the correct bus. When it is cold and snowy outside, it can become frustrating.

Now, imagine the Jews waiting for the Messiah. Prophecies from Isaiah had been spoken eight-hundred years ahead of his coming. God had not spoken to them for four-hundred years. They hung on to the promises of God but had continued to experience difficulties. When John the Baptist comes on the scene to prepare the way, the Romans occupied Israel. John had been told the sign to look for was when the Holy Spirit descended and remained on one he baptized, He would be the Messiah.

How many people did John baptize? How many days had he been proclaiming the coming Messiah? He may have experienced days of frustration, impatience, or even depression. He might have asked God, “When? How long must I wait?” Yet, when Jesus came and was baptized by John, the Spirit descended visibly and John was a witness. John’s heart might have leapt for joy and his pulse increased rapidly.

There is something about a baptism that touches my heart. When I witness a baptism, I become emotional, and tears well up in my eyes. When I have performed baptisms, I have focus and hold back those emotions so that I can get through it without my voice breaking. The joy of it is nearly overwhelming. I can only imagine the joy John must have felt when he baptized Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him.

I pray we all are touched by the Spirit as we witness baptisms. I pray we remember our baptism. I pray each one of us take time to imagine what John felt when he baptized Jesus and realized He was the Messiah. Experience the Holy Spirit. Remember your baptism. Visualize John’s reaction to baptizing Jesus.

John 1:33-34 “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”