LIGHT

LIGHT

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  (15)  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  (16)  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

We are the light of the world. Jesus came as the original light (John 1:9), but here He passes onto us the task of being the light of the world. With that task is the instruction not to hide that light. Many mistake this light for the spoken gospel, but Jesus clarifies what He is talking about in verse 16 where He says, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out…” It is good deeds that shine the light. The word translated “deeds” in the NLT would better be translated “works” which carries the idea of an extended on going undertaking. In other words, let all your deeds, works be good in such a way as to show you are a child of God.

Elsewhere, Jesus tells us that the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. I have met many people who I could tell were believers by the way they did business and by how they treated other people. 

“For all to see-“ Don’t hide the fact that you are His child. Live righteously in front of others. Now this may seem to be a contradiction to Matthew 6:1 which tells us not to do our “good works publicly, to be admired of others…” It is not a contradiction but a command to know our motives. A pure motive is that “everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” An impure motive is that everyone will praise you.

This is not an impossibility because Christ tells us to do what we do openly for God’s glory, so it can be done. I believe the answer is found in prayer.

Father in heaven, as Jesus taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Cleanse our motives and cause us to live in such a way as to glorify You. May we live holy, pure lives and have motives and thoughts that please You. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

PURE

PURE

Matthew 5:8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Pure – This word translates, “clean.” Psalms 24:3-6 “Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?  (4)  Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.  (5)  They will receive the LORD's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.  (6)  Such people may seek You and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude”

A clean heart, a pure heart? How is this possible for any of mankind? 1 Corinthians 1:30 “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin.” That’s how. Christ does it, did it for us, but note the rest of that verse, “and He freed us from sin.” He saved us that we would live in that freedom He purchased for us with His own blood. So, spiritually we are clean, pure in God’s eyes because of Jesus’ work on the cross, but are we pure in thought?

Psalms 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Why is it important for us to strive for purity in this life if Christ has already taken care of it in the spirit? Paul explains this to us in 2 Timothy 2:21-22. “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  (22)  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” And I like the way the Message paraphrases this passage. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 MSG Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.  (22)  Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness--faith, love, peace--joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

Is your heart pure? If the Savior were looking for someone for a special task would He consider you? Only you and He know the answer.

We have a dish washer for which I am very grateful and most of the time it does a great job getting the dishes clean. But, occasionally a dish will somehow go through all the cycles and still not be clean. I’ve gotten into the habit of looking inside any cups I pull from the cabinet before I fill them. I wouldn’t consider drinking from a dirty vessel. Why would God who is Holy, without spot or wrinkle, pour His Holy Spirit through a dirty vessel?

Those who have such a clean heart are promised that they will see God. We know that no flesh can see Him and live. Moses saw as much of God as was physically possible. In the spirit we can see Him and in eternity we will see Him in all His glory. But even now we can see Him at work like one can see the wind at work by the way it bends a tree or blows a flag. Those who are pure in heart will see this more readily than those whose hearts are full of self and sin. May we be among those who see God.

Father in heaven, as Your servant David prayed, create in us a clean heart. Renew a right spirit within us. Make us clean, usable for Your glory. And may we see You at work in us, around us and through us. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!