"Encroaching On The Light"

"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Matthew 5:15

Yesterday I was trimming back one of the azaleas in my yard when I discovered a solar light hid up in it that I had forgotten was there. The azalea had grown over the light covering it completely from view. I had forgotten it was there because I had not seen its light shining for sometime. As I cut the bush back I thought about how that we tend to allow things to encroach upon our "lights" until they are either dim or don't shine at all.

I had placed a brick border around the azalea as a boundary line for the bush but had not done a very good job of keeping it trimmed back, therefore, it went past the boundary line and consumed the solar light. God's word sets the boundary lines in our lives. When we do not practice it, follow its principles, or obey it, the boundaries are not enforced. For example, when temptation comes and we don't look for the way of escape but rather yield to it, then sin begins to grow and will increase until it consumes our lights. When we don't resist the devil's attacks but succumb to them, then discouragement, depression, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. will continue to grow until the light in us is covered. When we place other things ahead of God, instead of "having no other gods before Him", then there is no source of power getting to us to keep the light shining.

I can't stop the bush from growing, unless I completely cut it down, but I can keep it under control. There are many things that come into our lives that we can't stop from happening, but we do have control over whether they cover our lights or not. What is encroaching upon your light this morning? What is causing it to be hid under a basket? Is it a besetting sin? Is it pain or hurt that has not been dealt with? Is it unforgiveness that has not been confessed and forsaken? Are you bitter or discouraged? Have you allowed your blessings to turn to pride and arrogance? What is it?

If your light is hidden from clear and plain view, then you need to do the same thing that I did to that azalea- get out the garden shears and start cutting. In your case, get out the word of God and act upon it to "cut back" the encroaching "darkness". Make it your boundary line again by following it and applying it to every situation in life. And do it on a daily basis to keep it from happening again. God's word will keep those things that try to cover and put out your light in check and back where they belong.

Have a great day. Is your light shining? How brightly? Or is something encroaching upon it to hide it from view?

For further reading:
Matthew 5:14-16; 6:22-24
1 Corinthians 10:13
James 4:7
Exodus 20:3
Hebrews 4:12