Let Your Light Shine

                                         Let Your Light ShineShine

                                                                  Matthew 5:14-16

After walking with His disciples for three years, Jesus gave the command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus taught them the full gospel message and revealed the wonderful truths about our Heavenly Father; “I have made You known to them and will continue to make You known” (John 17:26).

The disciples had been blessed with an awesome knowledge of the truth and now had the responsibility to take this message to all the nations, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). But this was not a new command. Toward the beginning of His ministry, Jesus taught about the need to share our true life in Christ.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men.”

When we place our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin we are “rescued from the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). Where darkness once ruled, the Light of Jesus now reigns supreme; “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). Receiving His free gift of light allows us to see His path. It should also light the path for others to follow!

Being given the Light of Christ is an awesome blessing; but with this gift also comes a very real responsibility. Every day God gives us opportunities to share our faith, to share our light. But when we keep silent, we cover our lamp and deprive our flame of vital oxygen. It doesn’t take long for such a flame to begin to weaken, flicker, and die!

We must keep the fire going by sharing our faith! As a child of God, we have become “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Though God doesn’t need us to accomplish His work, He has invited (even commanded) us to play a part in His wonderful plan. The world was spiritually dark when Jesus arrived, and there remains many areas of darkness today. We have the responsibility, and the privilege, of helping to light one small corner, of pushing back the darkness with our light.

Let’s faithfully share the truth of Jesus wherever we are sent. When we receive the Light of Christ, we should no more keep it to ourselves than we should keep our breath inside our body once we are born (neither are very healthy). This precious gift, given by grace through faith, comes with a command. We must continue to hold the Light high and let it shine!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

The Most Important Question

Luke 23:40-41

We seem to spend an enormous amount of time evaluating questions about our future: what school we will attend, what job we will work, who we will marry, and where we will live. These are important questions and deserve careful consideration. But have we given proper thought to the question which determines our eternal future?

If the Bible is simply a collection of stories and the thoughts of crazy men, then there is no eternity and you need read no further – the next several years are all we have, so make the most of them. But if the Bible is, in some form, a message from and about God, then there is nothing of greater importance! His message says we continue to live long after our physical body ceases to breathe. Though we pass from this earth, we continue to live – we either live in eternal joy and peace, or eternal pain and separation. There is no greater question: Where WILL we spend eternity?

When Jesus died, He was nailed to a cross along with two other men. These men were thieves and both mocked Jesus for claiming to be the Son of God. But at some point during those long hours on the cross, one of the men demonstrated a changed heart and had his eternal future radically altered.

Luke 23:40-41
“‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.'”

In the last moment of life, this common thief pointed the way to eternal peace. He recognized his sin and understood he deserved death. We ALL sin and fall short of God’s standard; and this sin deserves death, eternal separation from God. But praise God we need not dwell in this hopeless state. The thief turned from his sin, toward Jesus as the One who would conquer death; “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

Though the thief had nothing to give, he surrendered ALL. God’s Word never says there are specific acts which determine our eternal future. We are simply told to believe in Jesus with such a belief that we call out with complete surrender. When the thief recognized and turned from his sin, with humility toward Jesus as his only hope, Jesus answered as He promises to answer us today; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

In that moment the thief had his answer. No longer a thief but a Child of God, he would live forever in joy and peace. Let’s not allow another day to go by without knowing where we will spend eternity! Have we recognized and turned from the sin within our heart? Have we humbly placed our life in His hands? Do we really believe? Today, let’s make sure we know the answer to the most important question.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Just Passing Through

Philippians 3:19-21

It’s a great privilege to be part of God’s creation. Through the beauty of this world we have the honor to view “God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20). Every plant and animal; every hill, valley and body of water; every star in the sky and every man, woman and child declare the glory of Godand attest to His majesty. And yet, as glorious as this world may be…it is not our home.

Philippians 3:19-21

“Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

When we place our trust in Jesus, He provides a way for us to be united with God and “adopted as His sons” (Ephesians 1:5). We are adopted by grace and become “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). If we could gain even a small understanding of “God’s household,” we would hold very loosely any of our attachments to this world.

Abraham lived his life by faith. When God called Abraham to pack all his household and move, he obeyed “even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham was never concerned with his earthly dwelling; he was “longing for a better country – a Heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). Abraham honored God through faith while remaining an “alien and a stranger on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

We have been placed in this world with all its beauty and with all its temptations. In fact, when we give our life to Christ, we are sent into the world for a purpose; “As You have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). But we must NEVER become identified by the values of the world or driven by anything it can offer. We are sent into the world, but we must not be part of the world system; “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it” (John 17:16).

Our home is defined as the place we feel most comfortable; the place we store our treasures and find rest for our soul. If we are a child of God, our eternal home is in His presence and we ought to be able to say, “Take everything I own but leave me Jesus and I will have enough!” This world can be VERY beautiful and our lives should always be a productive expression of worship for our Lord. But we must remember that our citizenship is in Heaven; and for all the days we walk this earth, we must walk as though we are just passing through!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Divine Wisdom

James 1:5-7 (NIV) ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

What a wonderful promise we have in this passage! We are always in need of divine wisdom. James says that all we need to do is ask, but he also encourages us that God doles it out generously. God does not only give it to the perfect, holy person, but to whoever would ask. He is just waiting for us to ask. Wisdom that is from above will lead us in the way of righteousness. That is why you don't have to have attained some state of perfection to ask for it. It is the path to a righteous life. It is a revelation of the ways of God.

Lest we think we can ask in any state of mind, James warns that the one thing that is required is to believe and not doubt. Perfection is not required, but belief is. God will not inspire you with wisdom when you will doubt the wisdom He is ready to give. The picture is of a wave blown and tossed by the wind.

It is not that you must attain to some great state of faith, but you need to believe in the character of God. If you ask and doubt what He gives, you will treat His wisdom with skepticism and be worse off than when you started. That is an indication of self-trust. Then, with your own wisdom, you will weigh what God has given as just one of many choices. That makes you more accountable for ignoring His direction. If you are going to ask for wisdom, believe it is coming and accept it without wavering. He is glad that you asked and glad to give it.

Prayer: Lord, I need Your wisdom each day of my life. Help me to understand what is of You and by faith to follow it explicitly.

Pure Joy

James 1:2-4 (NIV) ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This must certainly sound strange to most ears, joy in the face of trials. James explains that we should be joyful because the testing of our faith develops a quality of character in our life that is like that which Christ exhibited, perseverance. Without that quality, our effectiveness for the Lord will end when the going gets tough, and it will get tough. That is why the Lord allows the trials of many kinds to come our way.

Trials are like an old method of growing winter rye. When it sprouted, the farmer would tramp on it to keep it from growing. This caused the roots to grow deeper, finding more nourishment. It also kept the rye from maturing too quickly and freezing.

God is more concerned about your preparation for eternity than He is about your temporal happiness. He is making you into a mature and complete Christian, one who lacks nothing. The training process is not easy. Solid growth comes through difficult conditions.

Do you feel tromped on? Are you wondering why it is so hard when you are still so young in Christ? Trust the Great Farmer. He is working something into your life that you desperately need if you are going to produce fruit. It is the only path to maturity. So don't complain, be joyful! God has a plan for your life. This trial is for a glorious purpose. You need it. You will learn more quickly when you recognize that it is a necessary process for your growth.

Meditation: The trials in my life are developing Christ-like character. That is a reason for joy in the midst of them.

Matthew 27:50-52 (NIV)

⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. ⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Luke records this last cry to be, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." John says the last cry was, "It is finished!" We assume that Luke obtained his version from Mary. John was right there at the foot of the cross. Surely Jesus said both expressions. The Greek word translated in John, "It is finished", is one word in Greek. It was stamped on Roman invoices when a bill was paid. We use the phrase, "paid in full". The sin debt of mankind was paid in full. The redemption price of the slaves of sin was paid in full. That was a shout of victory. He had done what He came to do. The just had taken on the sins of the unjust and died in their place.

The overflow of the power of that moment affected the physical world. The most significant event was the tearing of the veil. Between the court where the priests ministered to God and the innermost court where God's glory resided, hung a huge curtain. It is estimated to have been 3 to 5 inches thick. Once a year a priest was selected to go in and sprinkle the blood of atonement over the mercy seat and ask for forgiveness of the sins of the nation. The tearing of that curtain meant access to God was open to all. Now, all people can come to God, not with the blood of an animal, but with the atoning blood of the Lamb of God who died for them. We have access to God!

Matthew is the only one that mentions tombs opening and holy people rising from the dead. Now that is an overflow of power! The Roman soldier that was witnessing all these miraculous events, and the unique words and ways of the One he helped crucify, could not help but exclaim, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (verse 54). Remember that there is evidence that Matthew was written within 20 years of Jesus' death, at the latest. Witnesses to these events were still living when Matthew began to be circulated. These things actually happened.

Consider what great things God has done for you!

Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV)

⁴⁵From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"–which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus was crucified around the time of the morning sacrifice, 9 A.M. At noon there was a strange darkness. It lasted until the afternoon sacrifice, 3 P.M. It is reminiscent of the plague of darkness that covered the land of Egypt. In the area that Israel lived, there was light, but the rest of Egypt was covered with a thick darkness. God is light. In Him is no darkness at all. Was hell unleashed upon the Savior in those three hours because our sins were laid upon Him?

Toward the end of the three hours, Jesus cried out in a loud voice the beginning of Psalm 22. It is not likely that He could have said the whole phrase at once. Each painful breath had to be drawn while pulling against the nails in His wrists and pushing against those in His ankles. These few words had to say volumes. In that psalm, David prophesied the very details of what was taking place. He predicted Jesus' anguish, His thirst, the lots cast for His clothing, and even the nails in His hands and feet. Many have taken this to be a voice of despair. I see it more as a battle cry against the darkness. Read the rest of the psalm and you will see Jesus' thoughts are toward the victory He is achieving for those He loves. He was turning His disciples' minds to the Word of God. It was one way, with the limited strength He had left, He could explain that this was all predicted and would end in a glorious outcome.

I encourage you to read the whole psalm to understand the fullness of where Jesus was turning their minds. Here are the last two verses. Psalms 22:30-31 (NIV) ³⁰Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. ³¹They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn– for he has done it.

Consider: He has done it, for you and me! We are a part of those future generations declaring the victory won on the cross.

Matthew 27:28-30 (NIV)

²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. ³⁰They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Once the Roman governor, Pilate, pronounced the sentence, the soldiers had their fun with Jesus. I'm sure they would rather have worked over Barabbas, the zealot, but this Jewish teacher would have to do. The charge was that He claimed to be king, so they put a robe of regal red on him and made Him a crown out of thorns. The plant they most likely used is called "Crown of Thorns" today. Its spikes are two to three inches in length. As the first couple were being expelled from the Garden of Eden, God told Adam that thorns would come up from the ground, making his efforts to till the soil difficult. In our passage today, the second Adam is taking the curse of the thorns on His head. He is taking the curse of sin upon Himself that we might be free of it.

Jesus had already been beaten and spit upon by the religious leaders. Now it was the secular government's turn. After the scourging He would have had no strength to resist. They put a stick in His hand pretending it to be a staff of authority and bowed in mockery. Then they would wrench the stick from Him and beat Him over the head again and again. This is the Lord of glory that formed them and gave them life. He knows their lineage back to Adam. He knows the number of hairs on their head. He is about to pay for their sins with His own death that they might have a chance to live. When the soldiers had grown tired of their game of mockery, they placed a beam across His torn shoulders and tied His arms to it. A rope was probably placed about His waist, with a soldier at the other end, leading Him to the place of execution.

We wonder how man can be so cold, so heartless. Jesus would soon say they did not know what they were doing. If Jesus can overlook such abuse, knowing that man is ignorant, how much more should we overlook words and actions that offend us? He did nothing to deserve the abuse. But oh how many times we have. He has been so gracious to forgive our ignorance. Let us forgive others for theirs.

Prayer: Take a moment to thank Him again for enduring this abuse for you.

Matthew 27:17, 21b-22 (NIV)

¹⁷So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

^21b"Barabbas," they answered. ²²"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

It hadn't been that many days before this that they were shouting for Jesus to save them, save them from Rome. That week was spent sharing the words of life with all who would hear in the Temple. They had come to a crossroad. Would they ask for the release of Barabbas, the zealot that killed Roman soldiers, or Jesus, the healer and teacher? Will they choose the physical answer to their needs, or the spiritual answer? Will they choose the way of the flesh or the way of the Spirit? "They all answered, "Crucify him!"

We are often faced with the same choice. We have to decide whether we will proceed with our lives on the basis of what man can accomplish, or take a whole new path led by the Spirit of God. Will we choose the physical answer to our needs or the spiritual answer, the way of the flesh or the way of the Spirit? One is death, and the other is life.

Pilate did not have just cause to execute Jesus and told the crowd as much. They didn't care. They said they would personally bear the guilt. "His blood be on us and our children." We look back at the history of suffering the Jews have endured and wonder at the connection with their readiness to accept the blame for His murder. We trust that in God's time that expression will mean their salvation.

Pilate had Jesus whipped. It was a process they called 'half death'. Those who wielded the whips were medically trained to recognize shock. They wove into the end of the whips pieces of bone or lead so that the muscles of the back would be shredded. It was so brutal that sometimes the organs were exposed. Those wielding the whips were not held responsible should the victim die. Isaiah said, "By His stripes we are healed."

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for enduring that for us!

Matthew 26:62-64 (NIV)

⁶²Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" ⁶³But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." ⁶⁴"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

The political power plays that happened that night are an indication of the heart of those in leadership. They took Jesus to Annas first. He was Caiaphas father-in-law. He had been High Priest years before but still pulled the strings. He was interested in finding out who was a secret follower amongst the Jewish leaders. Jesus would not betray them and kept silent. Then the kangaroo court began. The High Priest was not supposed to conduct a trial before the morning sacrifice, but here in the wee hours of the morning, Jesus is being tried. They try to line up men of questionable character to be witnesses, because Judas didn't show up. These men were ready to condemn him, they just weren't smart enough to say the same thing.

Finally, Caiaphas used The Oath of Testimony. This was his ace in the hole. He could command a person to answer a question truthfully by authority of his position. A false answer would condemn the person before God. "Are you the Messiah of God?" he asked. Jesus answered with a verse from Daniel 7:13. All through His ministry He called Himself the Son of Man. In the Daniel passage the Son of Man is led into the presence of the Ancient of Days (God), and comes with the clouds. In that one passage we have the ascension and the Second Coming. Every eye will see that final event.

In emotional fury, Caiaphas broke the Law again by ripping his priestly robe, but the Law is not his chief concern. He had what he needed. Now he could order the execution through his influence with the Roman leader. The Man who exposed his whole system and hypocritical ways, the Man who drew the crowds, would be out of the way. There is one problem. Though Caiaphas did not believe the passage Jesus quoted, it came to pass and will come to pass. Jesus ascended to the Father. He will return on the clouds in glory. Caiaphas won the skirmish and lost the battle. His knee will bow, and his tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord of all.

Consider: Just as the ascension took place, so the last part of the promise, the Second Coming, will take place.

Matthew 26:39-41 (NIV)

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Gethsemene means 'olive press'. Jesus had retreated to what we believe was a friend's olive grove. The cave where the press was kept is still there today. The Church of All Nations is built over the spot where it is believed this event took place. Ancient olive trees still grow in the garden beside the church. Jesus came to prepare Himself for the battle that lay before Him. He had never felt the weight of sin personally. For all eternity He had perfect fellowship with the Father. Ahead, He could see the sins of the world upon Him while all hell vented its fury at Him. The Father would have to turn His face, for God is of purer eyes than to behold evil. "Isn't there some other way?" He asked.

Jesus' will was not to suffer. That is not a sin. That is instinctive. Yet, He was willing to suffer if it was the Father's will. Reader, don't feel that you have sinned if you do not desire loss or pain that lies before you. As long as the Father's will is your priority and you are willing to do His will, even if you do not desire the pain, you are not in sin. You don't have to like God's will. You do have to have faith that He will see you through and bring good from the suffering. That is faith in the character and sovereignty of God.

Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Him. Jesus wanted His friends to be prepared too. He asked them to pray for their own sakes. When God prompts you to pray, it is sometimes the preparation for the battle that lies before you. They wanted to pray, but their bodies were tired. As you pray for others, don't forget to pray for your dependence on the Spirit of God for strength.

Consider: Can you keep watch with Him for one hour?

Matthew 26:33-35 (NIV)

³³Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."³⁴"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." ³⁵But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

I think we would say the same. Those in the third world that are daily faced with suffering and death are not so quick to say the same. Like Peter, they have learned that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We can believe in our heart that we would die before denying our Lord, but the truth is that we will never know unless we are faced with the choice. In many parts of our world, people are making the choice. Let's remember to pray for them. There are more martyrs for Christ this century than in all previous ones combined.

We have one great resource that the disciples did not have. The Spirit has been poured out. If we are living in constant reliance upon the Spirit, when faced with a choice, we will follow our life pattern of depending on His strength. We will make the right choice. If we are live in the pattern of relying on our own strength and effort, we will certainly fail the test. Failing does not mean defeat. It is a revelation of our condition and the unreliability of the flesh. That revelation will bring us to the depths of despair, the depths to which Peter went when he went out and wept bitterly. Then we can turn and change the source of our strength.

The humility of failure made it possible for him to hear the Apostle Paul's correction. If early church history is accurate, Peter did change the source of his strength. When faced again with a choice of denying Jesus or death, he not only chose death, but death upside down on a cross. You probably stand before a great test in which you will fail, or have failed, or have been restored. Learn the lesson of failure, and let it teach you humility and dependence on the strength of the Spirit.

Remember: God does not love us any less when we fail. Get up! Depend on Him!

Matthew 26:27-29 (NIV)

²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

At the Last Supper, Jesus did something out of the norm for the traditional Seder of the day. The traditional meal had four cups of wine. Each has a name and spiritual significance. The cup that Jesus was presenting in our text above was the Cup of Redemption. In the past, it had reminded the people of the blood of the lambs that marked the doorposts in Egypt. The destroying angel saw the marked doors and passed over them. Instead of the regular phrases that were repeated here, He told them the cup was about His blood! Some manuscripts include the word 'new' before 'covenant'. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul quoted it with the words 'new covenant'. What did Jesus mean?

The old covenant was the covenant made on Mount Sinai. It was made with the blood of animals and dependent on the rules being kept. The prophets told of a day when God would make a new covenant. God promised to make one that was not written on stone tablets but written on the transformed heart of the recipient. That day had come.

There is another nuance here that we would only catch if we were familiar with traditions of the day. The wording is very much like a proposal for marriage. A groom would present a cup of wine to a prospective bride and propose a covenant of relationship with her. If she took it and drank it all, it meant she received his life and would give him her life as well.

One of the dearest expressions of all is the last verse. Wine was a symbol of joy and celebration. Jesus said He would not drink it again until He drank it anew with us in the Father's kingdom. We long to be with Him, but this expression tells us how He longs to be with us. That should reveal to our hearts His great love for us.

Remember: The next time you have communion, remember the meaning behind these rich symbols and words.