Thursday, January 13, 2022

"Hidden Lights"

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14

"Ye are the light of the world." How do we become lights? We are born into darkness and are darkness. "For ye were sometimes darkness:" (Ephesians 5:8a) Darkness cannot change itself into something that it is not, or into something that it is diametrically opposed to.

The way we become light is through Jesus, He is the Light. We become light when we become born again, when we surrender our lives to Him, when He comes and lives within us. Then it is His light that shines through us. This light is Jesus-- without Him we have no light.

Lights have one purpose-- to shine. When they are hidden, they are not shining. "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." (verse 15) Our lights were never meant to be hidden. If Jesus is the Light that is in us- because we have no light of our own- then He is meant to "shine" through us, not be hidden.

Is Jesus hidden in your life? Or is He shining? How can He be hidden? He is hidden when we exhibit something through our lives that He is not. He is love. When we have hate and malice toward someone, He is hidden. When we are living in immorality, He is hidden. When we don't show forgiveness but rather hold a grudge, He is hidden. When we are bitter, mean tempered, rude, unkind, covetous, greedy, condemning, arrogant, proud, boastful, abusive and lustful, He is hidden.

On the other hand, He is shining through us and not hidden when we are kind, tenderhearted, loving, forgiving, compassionate, giving, self-denying, content, meek, humble, gracious, faithful, temperate and walking in peace and joy.

So, examine yourself and see if what you are doing and the type of life you are living is allowing Jesus to shine through you or is it hiding Him.

Have a great day. Lights have one purpose- to shine. Are you?

For further reading:
1 Thessalonians 5:5
Ephesians 5:8
1 Peter 2:9
1 John 1:5,6; 2:9

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