Monday 8 January 2018

A Shining Light


Scripture: Luke 11 v 34-36:  "The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body is full of light, but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore, that the light that is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light."


Jesus wants us to be shining lights in the darkness of this world full of sin and shame. He is the Light of the world and He is in our hearts using our bodies as a lantern seeking for the lost and lonely souls who cry out for salvation.

We need to be clean lanterns that shine brightly. Our eye must be single, i.e. we must have a single purpose. We must get into God's plan for our lives, His purpose for saving us, and run with it. If there is any darkness of sin or demonic activity in our lives we must be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus so that our purpose is not muddled and confused.

Sometimes people have their own dark ideas and philosophies of life which they expound to others as truth and enlightenment. Or the Interfaith movement of all paths lead to God. Jesus says if the truth you tell is wrong but you swear it is right - how great is that darkness! It is double darkness if there is such a thing.  People who are afflicted with obsessions are in this category.

If you are heading in the wrong direction and are convinced you are on the right path you will end up lost. Spiritually lost means eternity in Hell. Jesus came to shine His brilliant Light into the world of the lost to see how many could be saved. We must have the same desire. How many can He reach through us?

We need to let go of our comfort zones and realise that the lost souls we spend our time with and who mean so much to us will spend eternity in the flame of hell if we do not shine the Light of the World into their hearts. We may have been saved to win some of these to His kingdom. If we don't change and behave differently towards them they will never see the light in us. We will have to give an account to Jesus the Judge for the souls who were lost on our watch.

The best way of shining our light to them is to make Jesus real to them. Let them see the change in us. Don't be afraid of their reaction - Jesus will back up our words with His power because He wants to reach them. It may not be immediately visible but we will plant a seed that the Lord will water as we pray for the seed to take hold and grow.

Let us think of our own testimony.  How did we first hear that we must be born again?  Who had the courage to speak to us about Jesus and confront us about sin?  And had the Holy Spirit already been convicting us of these sins?  He is preparing people around us even laying their names on us to pray for salvation so be bold, be strong and shine the light of salvation.

Prayer: Father God, I want to be a shining light in the darkness to reach the lost. Please clean out my lantern of every falseness and fill it with the pure light of Jesus. Create the best opportunities for me to share Your love and forgiveness. In Jesus' name. Amen.