10/5/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others. If you do that, they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5.14-16)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Have you thought that being a mighty one of God, a genuine Christ follower, is living in such a way that others are wont to ask “Why?” “Why do you do such things?” “Why do you say it that way?” “Why don’t you do what everyone else is doing?” “Why do you have to be so different?” Sadly, more people in the Church, the community of faith in Jesus as the Christ, may ask that question of us in the opposite direction. Let’s not call it hypocrisy but more like a discrepancy between the truth, living righteously before God and humanity, and our version of the truth, living in a worldly manner using the tools of compromise to appear inclusive and affirming as well as devaluing morals and ethics in order to not appear unloving and unkind. What are we as believers afraid of? If we affirm the beatitudes plus one, then we have all that is needed for authentic and eternal life in this world and in the next. Surely, we cannot be intimidated by death which we know is temporary or “in an instant” because of the witness of the resurrection. Surely, we cannot be threatened by anything in this world because we have a place prepared for us eternal in the heavens not made with human hands. Sure, we are intimidated by death, the threat of death and conflict with others which could lead to devaluation, dismissal and detraction. We are moved by the call and need for relationship and companionship as much as we are inspired by fulfillment of purpose and the meaning of our success. But, to what end? Is it for ourselves? Is it for others? Is it for God? It is for all three but in reverse order: for God, for others and for ourselves. Isn’t that the format of the “Great Commandment plus one“? Jesus reminds His enemies, “It is written, ‘Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind and strength,’ additionally then, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’“

Did the light turn on? As John describes it often, “Wrongdoing and sin flourish in the dark and flee from the light; the light of truth.” Mighty ones, we live in a day and time, a culture and climate, where “all is dark.” “All is dark” because “light is called dark and dark is called light.” It is the mantra of lawlessness. And we would do well to not point fingers at others and forget that there are three fingers pointing back at us. When Peter asks Jesus, “What is the fulfillment of the call to forgive?” Okay, he said it this way, “How many times am I obligated to forgive others [until I either can condemn them as judge, jury and executioner or ignore them completely and dismiss them from my consciousness.]” Jesus answer, of course is that he nor we can do either. We dare not judge lest we ourselves come under judgment. Further, as Jesus was sent into the world to save that/those which are lost and restore them into the community out of which they were cast out, dismissed or left behind, so too, are we to do the same. Jesus kept the light of truth burning at all times. His shekinah, the glory of God, was ignited all the time. Perhaps it was not in the fullness of power as on Mount Tabor where the transfiguration of Jesus occurred and where Moses and Elijah communed with Him as the fulfillment of the prophecies given to them. But, His wick never grew short nor His oil become empty. Well never except at the cross where He demonstrated His ultimate trust in the Word of God by offering Himself as powerless to produce the regeneration of His life. Jesus needed God for that. He could not and would not attempt to do this at home.

So is that lightbulb burning brightly above your head, in your heart and soul and like a city set on a hill or a lamp set on table to light the whole house? Are you getting the idea of the value of trusting always in the Word of God, especially in the Word that became flesh to dwell among us who is Jesus the Christ, Lord and Savior? As we live in the pursuit of all righteousness, the blessings become abundant, abundantly strong and without end. We would do well to hear what Jesus says about “this light.”

First, we cannot be hidden. The glory of God within us as the Word set upon our heart and mind and enacted in spirit and in truth is immutable and incapable of being hidden. It doesn’t mean it cannot be ignored or called something else in order to be dismissed. However, the nature of the light of God’s word is unchangeable as is His love and His desire for His people.

Second, we cannot be put away or covered up. Nowhere can we see this greater than at the cross and the tomb. The confession of the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross should echo in us, “Surely, this must have been a man of God.” It wasn’t about His condition but how He lived unconditionally in light of all those conditions which humanity and the enemy sought to rob Him of life and us of hope. Further, at the tomb, it was not only its emptiness which brought to light the prophecies of God which Jesus shared with them but His appearance to Mary Magdalene to restore her joy and bring her out of grief. Stones are rolled away. Grave clothes are put to the side and in their place. Directives to pursue the living out of one’s purpose and meaning are instituted. We are at liberty to be what God calls us to be.

Third, we pointedly direct all attention to what God has done for us because of what He has done to us. In that liberty of the Spirit, we can confidently go into the world around us and do the work for which we have been empowered and called to do. It doesn’t make sense to live “at risk” in the eyes of the world we serve, but it outweighs the risk of not doing so and face the consequence of denying our faith in and our beliefs that Jesus is the Christ and accepted as our personal Lord and Savior. Without God all this would be impossible. But, with God all this is not only possible but becomes reality, authentic righteousness.

You see, we become forever salt and forever light. We cannot be unsalty nor dim when we walk with the Lord according to “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” We become the challenge to the ways of the world. And we, like Christ whom we see to emulate and be like, shall overcome the world and its worldliness.

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.