"Is It Hid?"

"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

Is your light shining brightly? Or is it being hid under a "bushel"? Are you hiding it under the "bushel" of intimidation, fear of others, or the opinion's of men? Do you let what others think about you cause you to keep quiet when you should speak up? Do you let their opinions cause you to draw back or cow down when you should be bold? Do you let what they say about you stop you from doing the right thing at the right time? Are you hiding it under the "bushel" of rejection? Are you letting your desire to be liked by others cause you to hide your light through compromise? Are you so willing to please someone else- a friend, a family member, a boss, a co-worker, one of your peers- that your light isn't seen at all.

This world is a "dark" place. People are in darkness and don't even realize it- at least not until they see the light, then they recognize the difference. Each time we hide the light of Jesus that is within us, their world gets a little darker. As long as they are in darkness, they will remain that way until someone comes and shines a light on the path out of the darkness.

We are called to be lights in this dark world and shine a light on the path out of darkness and to Jesus, the true Light. But if we hide it under some of the things we have talked about this morning, there won't be a light to shine the way.

Have a great day. If your light is hid today, bring it out from under the "bushel" that it is hid under and let it shine brightly to those around you so that they can find the path that leads out of darkness.

For further reading:
Isaiah 51:12
Matthew 5:14-16
John 1:1-9; 9:5; 12:46
Ephesians 5:8
1 Thessalonians 5:5