February 19, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from My hand: You will lie down in torment.” (Isaiah 50.10-11)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

Of course, I have to place Matthew 5.14-16 against the reflection written yesterday about “being the light” and “being in the light.” Isaiah was warned to address the people’s desire to be in their own light, the light which they “had made.” Of course, they did not make the light but used the light which God has made for their own purposes. They did so to highlight and “shine out” so others would see them and praise them (or fear them). What does Jesus teach in the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount? Jesus said, “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, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Yes, He said that “our” light should shine before others so they would see “your” good deeds. In doing so, the people will glorify God, our Father in Heaven. Who is truly being highlighted then?

It is God before all else! As others see what God has done and is doing in and through our lives lived in accordance to the call of righteousness, they will give thanks to God. Why? The truth is that we alone are not able to move mountains and do the things which make for “eternal” life. If people are honest, truly honest, they would not be afraid to say this and thus align themselves with God. Those who declare thanks to God for a “performance” are recognizing this truth that what was done was beyond their own worldly ability. Now, I don’t really think God cares about sports (which is where we hear this the most) but the platform allows them to shed light on the truth and bring glory to God.

It is Jesus who is OUR true light. When Jesus warns the disciples of the path ahead of them because they have chosen to remain His disciples, it is a warning of extreme trial and tribulation. Jesus tells them what will happen to them because they “bear His name and act as His ambassadors and emissaries.” When they go out into all the world, does He not say to them that what they will do shall be done “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”? If they do those things in their name and not His name, the testimony of their “deeds” would be easily dismissed.

So, there is really no conflict between the two reflections on God’s Word. Jesus is the light of the world and into the world. We dare not hide Him as if to keep Him to ourselves. We are to let His light so shine so that others will see who and what we are. We are His people, those made by His hand. We are the sheep of His pasture whom He watches over as the Good Shepherd. What we may do should be in reflection of Him. He is our light. He is our truth. He is our hope. He is our salvation. He is our meaning and purpose. And if we choose to usurp that to make it our own, then the light which shines is stolen and misused and will be used against us. The light of our lives which is in God alone through Jesus Christ will be dimmed. We will exchange the truth for a lie and the darkness for the light. In that darkness, no one will see us. Not because we deflect all eyes from ourselves to God but because we will have denied the priority and sovereignty of God in our lives. This is the consequence of sin which leads to a deadly and deathly eternal life. That is a life where we would be consumed by the fires of our own passions instead of the faith which we could have in Jesus Christ alone whose Father was, is and will forever be the God of Heaven and earth.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.