10/05/2020
The wealthy dress in fine clothes and drive exquisite cars. They live in fine houses and dine in fancy restaurants. When at the opera, or sporting events, don’t they sit above the common people where they can be seen? Why is this so? It is because they desire their successes to be envied, and to separate themselves from those of lesser means, but not so far that their power and wealth won’t be acknowledged and bring them glory. In a somewhat similar fashion, we, as people of faith, are meant to allow others to see our faithfulness, and good works, but for very different reasons... we are meant to give all glory of God, and give others the opportunity to do the same. In this way we are inviting the lost to join us in faith.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 ESV
Jesus was a man of great spiritual prowess, and means, and yet he gave all glory to God, and humbled himself throughout His life. He dined with sinners, and sat amongst those who had no knowledge of God so that He could teach them. He traveled by foot as any common person would (with the exception of entering Jerusalem before He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us), and dressed as they dressed. Yet, He showed them the bright light of God’s glory by doing merciful things for those in need. His miracles were always for others, and meant to bring the lost to faith by demonstrating God’s power, and goodness. His light shown brightly, but from a clay lamp... not a golden lantern.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:5-8 ESV
This is the man we are to fashion ourselves after; not the king, but the servant. We are to glorify God by humbling ourselves, and obeying our Heavenly Father in all things. The miracles we pray for, and the possessions we give to those in need, are never meant to glorify us, but to draw others to God by demonstrating His mercy... not ours. We are to be merciful because He was first merciful, and to love because He first loved us.
“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
1 John 4:19-20 ESV
So what is the light we wish to shine from our hill? In what way do we choose to cast our light into the world? Is our light meant to glorify ourselves, or to guide others to God? Are we meant to light the way to life everlasting as Jesus did, or to demonstrate the wealth of a fallen world as Pilot, and Herod did from their opulent palaces? Which will we choose? Will it be to shine from a simple clay lamp for the glory of God, or to cast our light from a lantern beaten from the world’s finest gold and meant to shine so that we might glorify ourselves?
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for forming me into a simple clay lamp, placing your mark upon me, and filling me with the sweet oil of your press. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who taught me what it means to be humble, and sit upon your hill, so that the lost in the world would see the light, and be called to you; witnessing your glory, not mine. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose mercy and grace are the light of the world that shines from hills such as Calvary, and Mt. Olivet, calling all who would believe to where you redeemed the world, and raised your Son Jesus Christ to be with you in Heaven. Praised be your name for every miracle you work in the world, even those that you work through us. You are glorious Holy Father, and we lift up your banner before all creation, and shine your light so that all men can find their way to you. Merciful are you who lights the way to salvation, and eternal life, through Jesus, and, for allowing us to be the lamp He holds in His hand as He knocks, and says “Come!” Great are you whose grace abounds, and fills our reservoirs, where the wick of faith carries it to bear your eternal flame. We pray for the souls of all who haven’t seen the light, and ask that the shingles fall from their eyes as they did from Paul’s. We pray that the light that shines forth from us will serve you, and lead many souls through Christ to you. Great is your name and radiant your glow that lights all of creation from the untold millions of wicks on every mountain... each burning with your flame and filled with the oil of Christ. On the day of judgement we pray you find us shining bright, and pleasing to you. We pray that you will see Christ when you look at us, and welcome us to your table forevermore... shining as the sun in your house... our scent wafting and bearing the sweet smell of temple oil.
Rich Forbes