Because of God’s tender
mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to
give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to
guide us to the path of peace.
Luke 1:78-79 NLT
I am reminded of this
Scripture every time I see the sun piercing through the cloud cover as though it
were an incredible spotlight behind a curtain with holes and rips and tears. I
observe in awe the transformation in appearance of literally anything that the
light touches as though it was set free to be alive. And I think it should be
the same way with us. The Light of the World transforms our lives and we become
like Him and we should shine enough light to transform the lives around us.
Matthew 5, beginning
verse 13 in The Message reads, Let me tell you why you are here. You're
here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you
lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your
usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here's another way to
put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God
is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city
on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you
under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you
there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with
your lives.
Okay, so we go to
church and we pay our tithes and offerings and we’re not out purposefully
sinning every day and we pray. Aren’t we doing enough?
Well, the question then is, how are
we instructed to be generous with our lives? Let’s read in Isaiah 58, beginning
with verse 2 (The Message). They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all
about me. To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding,
God-honoring. They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me
on their side. But they also complain, ‘Why do we fast and you don't look our
way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'
Well, here's why: "The bottom line on
your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast,
but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think
this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put
on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that
fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
"This is the kind of fast day I'm
after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the
workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you
do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your
homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your
own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn
around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will
secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for
help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
"If you get rid of unfair
practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the
down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed
lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give
you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll
be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll
use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations
from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore
old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.”
Now THAT is ‘Fast’
Living! Shine the light!
Prayer:
Father,
Shine Your light
through us. Let us bring glory to Your Name. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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