VertFingers: The Light We Carry

God's people carry a light! 

We are just 15 days into the new year, and God has been teaching me a few lessons on the subject of the light we carry.

  

It first began with an invitation to meditate on Jesus' instruction in Matthew 5:16:

               

 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

As a christian, this instruction may seem countercultural. 

Firstly, we are called to walk in meekness, however, this is often mistaken for shrinking away from visibility. Secondly, light by its very nature, is meant to shine. So, it almost seems like a tautology that Jesus would instruct us to let our lights shine. 

But the more I dwelt on this topic of light, the more I've come to understand why it was important for Jesus to leave us with this instruction. 

Light was the first thing that God created. It was the first thing that He spoke into existence. 

It was from the place of light that He created every other thing He called "good".

However, as with everything that God created, Satan made his attempt at light by creating a counterfeit. But instead of causing brightness and clarity, the counterfeit came with confusion and darkness.

The counterfeit light attempts to give an illusion of clarity. And because it is only an illusion, it tries very much to shine by replicating itself in many ways so as not to blow its cover as a counterfeit. 

Remember what someone said about empty barrels making the loudest noises? 

But the light we carry is different.  

The light we carry is the WAY and it LIGHTS up the way.  

The light we carry is TRUE and it SPEAKS truth.

The light we carry is LIFE and it BRINGS things to life. 

The Light we carry is CHRIST. This light shines in darkness and things become clear. (John 1:5).

This is why Jesus' instruction to us is very salient, and we cannot afford to be passive light carriers. 

As we start the year with this clear instruction to shine, here are a few things to know about the light we carry:  

1. Every light has a source. Ours is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. 
2. The light from God shines on us, shines in us, and shines through us:
• The light that shines on us illuminates our paths and helps us to know what is right.
• The light that shines in us helps us to do what is right (the Bible calls it good works).
• The light that shines through us points others to the source of our light - God!

It starts and ends with Him!

My personal goal for the year is to live in full obedience to this instruction: be a shinning light and point others to the source of that light - God! It is my hope and desire that at the end of this year, I can look back and see how God's light shone through me, all year long!

In addition to Matthew 5:16, here are a few passages that I would be considering and meditating on as we go into the year:

Genesis 1:3 - And God said, "let there be light, and there was light" (The place of light in creation).

Isaiah 9:2 - The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has light shined (The prophecy about Jesus coming to the world - calling Him a great light).

Isaiah 60:1 - Arise, Jerusalem (feel free to put your name)! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine over you.  (The call to shine the light of Christ).