ARE YOU SHINING FORTH YOUR LIGHT?
TEXT
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; ... " (Philippians 2 verse 14 to 16, King James Version)
On today’s devotional, I affirm and stress that the Lord Jesus is the Light of the world (John chapters 8 verse 12 and 12 verse 46) and the True Light that lights every man that comes into the world. By implication therefore, when we gave our lives to Jesus, we received Him and what He represents, to wit, the Light of the world. In Matthew 5 verse 14, Jesus Himself called His disciples "the light of the world". In the same vein, Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church reminding them that they "... are all the children of light ... " (st Thessalonians 5 verse 5). We were in time past children of darkness (1st John 2 verse 8), but are now children of Light because we believe in the Light. The Scriptures posit that "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (John 12 verse 36).
Being Children of Light makes us not to be of the world, though in the world (John 17 ver 14 to 16). This is so because the very knowledge of God's Word brings us light; for "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalms 119 verse 130). It follows therefore that the volume of God's Word in you determines the magnitude of the light and understanding in you.
God didn't light us up in Christ just for the fun of it, but for a definite purpose, being to live out what has been deposited in us. The Lord Jesus Himself, after calling us the light of the world, admonishes us saying:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5 verse 16). Having received the Light into us, it becomes necessary as lights of the world to manifest before the world what we have received. We have received the Person of Jesus Christ into our lives and in consequence thereof, we are to live for all to see the kind of life that replicates His Life. Anything else apart from that is an aberration!
As Christians, we have a lot to learn from the episode of Gideon in Judges 7 verse 20. Gideon had ordered his men to do two things. First, they were to cover up a torch in an earthen vessel. Second, he told them that at an appointed signal, they should break the earthen vessel and let the light shine, and then sound with the trumpet, crying, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!”
This is exactly what all Christians must do. First, you must shine. To do this, we must break the earthen vessel which conceals our light; throw aside that vessel which has been hiding our candlelight, so we can shine. There's glory on the inside of us. In order for us to let it out, the outer man must be broken. The outer man conceals God's glory that came into us when we got born again. In other words, we are to discard completely the world and all that it represents. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, ..." (Matthew 5 verse 16); and let your good works be such, that when men look upon you, they shall know that you have been with Jesus (Acts 4 verse 13). This is very crucial.
As Christians, we should know and understand also that we have been delivered from a crooked and a cursed world. God forbids that we return to Egypt. He looked upon Israel that desired to return to Egypt as stiff necked and unbelieving!
Brethren, let us remind ourselves constantly that as Christians, we live " ... in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; ... " (Philippians 2 verse 15). God's expectation of us is that we shine as lights in the world. Failing to recognize this fact could be fatal to our holy calling. Indeed, this had been the bane of many Christians who have erred and made a shipwreck of their salvation.
"Save yourselves from this untoward generation." is Apostle Peter's counsel to us in Acts 2 verse 40. Note that the responsibility to save yourself has been placed squarely in your hands. It's settled that God has revealed His Son, Jesus the Savior of the world. What are you therefore going to do about it?
According to Apostle Paul, " ...Holding forth the word of life ... " is the key to sailing through the tempestuous tide of worldliness that has fatally struck or pierced many a Christian in the heart. Dearly beloved believer, let God's Word be the standard for your life. Let your life continue to be a reflection of it, even in this dark world, especially as we await the Master’s return!
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, thank you for making me the light of the world in Christ Jesus. I shine forth my light for all to see, to your glory, in Jesus mighty name.