09/23/2021 - Uncovering our Lights of Faith before the World
Do we find ourselves living in the world and making short excursions into our faith? Have we designated certain times during a typical day to talk with Jesus, and God? We might be tempted to say no we don’t, but let’s examine our days by keeping a log. Many of us will find that we speak with God in the morning for a few minutes, then again at night before we retire. We might also say a short prayer before meals, but are we doing that only in the privacy of our homes, and not in restaurants or public places? For the remainder of our day, do we pray only on those occasions when we are afraid, or in dire need, but seldom, or never, speaking aloud in prayer, and remaining absorbed in the world for the bulk of our waking hours? This is neglect, and indicates that we are not truly being changed, but merely dabbling in our faith. When will we come to realize that our light is to burn all the day long?
““You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.”
Exodus 27:20 ESV
Our faith isn’t meant to be like a light that we turn off and on as we enter our prayer closet, or give to others, but a continuous light that burns, and lights up the world around us. How else will we be changed, and how will those who haven’t accepted God, or come to know Jesus, see them in us? How will we draw others into a gospel conversation if they don’t witness the evidence of faith in our lives? We are meant to be much more than an occasionally blinking light…
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 ESV
Even as children, and new Christians, we are taught this, and the two verses that follow it…
“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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 5:15-16 ESV
Yet somewhere between the birth of our faith, and its maturity, we begin to lose the concept of the basket. We build closets, homes, churches, and cathedrals, over our lights and though they are much larger, and grander, we make them into our new baskets. We limit our prayers, our good works, and the glow of our faith, to the confines of their walls.
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33 ESV
No Building, no matter how grand, can carry the light of Christ into the far reaches of the world, or into our workplaces and, neighborhoods. We can light them up with electric lights, lanterns, or a multitude of candles, but none of these can penetrate the heart like witnessing the light of a single man’s prayer, or act of faith.
A few days ago I was sitting in the cafeteria where I work, and as I prepared to eat my lunch I bowed my head, and in a low voice I prayed over my meal. As the word Amen left my lips I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a sweet voice say “I saw that Mr. Rich”. It was a dear sister in Christ whose faith had been refreshed by witnessing my quiet prayer. Her face was aglow as she told me of her own faith, and what God was doing in her life. So, what had begun as a moment of personal thanksgiving with my God had become something much larger.
Our faith is meant to be a part of us all the day long, but some will hide their fear, embarrassment, or desire to be like the world, behind two verses…
““And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:5-6 ESV
These verses are about intent, and not the act of praying itself. Praying quietly over our meal is not being hypocritical… it is faithful, but making a spectacle of our faith to impress others is. Doing in public those things that are consistent with our faith is not hypocritical either, but doing them wrong heartedly is.
A few years ago I was in a fast food restaurant and as I prepared to order my meal I watched a man of little means try to pay for his food. He had a discount coupon, and just enough money, to buy a very meager meal, but the cashier told him that the coupon had expired. As he turned to walk away hungry, I stepped up and told the cashier to add his meal to my bill… no big announcement, just a simple act of loving my neighbor. Instantly a look of relief came over the man’s face, as he said “Bless you sir” over and over again. No blessing could have been any more sincere. This wasn’t an act of hypocrisy, it was an act of love. On the other hand I have seen people give to charity then brag about what they have done, or how much they have given. That is quiet a different matter, and their intent was far from Christian. There are verses we sometimes hide behind in our giving too…
““Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Matthew 6:2 ESV
So how bright are we shining our light of faith, and are we doing so from a mountaintop, or limiting our faith to the confines of our safe places? Are we using scripture to help us as we pray and show mercy to others, or as an excuse to do less, pray less, and in so doing shine less into the world? Let’s think about the transfiguration of Jesus today, and what occurred on the mountain on that day…
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.””
Matthew 17:2-4 ESV
As we think on this let’s promise ourselves that we will never build tents over the lights of faith in our lives… let’s not construct houses, closets, churches, or cathedrals, to hide in as we worship, but use them as refreshing oasis, and gathering places where we can renew ourselves… then journey once more into the world with our faith bolstered, worshipping all the while, and shining forth for all to see… a Church without walls, and borders.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who abides in us, and your Holy Spirit that you breathed onto us. Help us Father to shine the light of our faith for all to see, that we might glorify you in the process, and win many souls to your kingdom. Teach us Gracious Lord to give, pray, and perform righteous acts of faith as we should, and to recognize hypocrisy when we see it so that we might avoid falling into that dark pit. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who desires us to worship you without ceasing, and to be your light into the world. Praised be your name for every hungry man we are able to feed, and every ebbing faith that we can strengthen by a simple demonstration of our own faithfulness. Help us Father as we leave our churches and other places of renewal, and worship, to do the real work of faith, and to go out into the real places of prayer, worship, and loving mercy; the mountains and deserts where we can be alone with you, and the hustle bustle of the cities where we walk side by side with you, praying, and loving, amidst those who need you so desperately. Wash us clean with the blood of Jesus, and let others watch as we worship, and do the many things of faith. Call us your children, your servants, and your friends, as we do your will, and continue the work of Christ’s disciples, and the 12 apostles. Guide us as we walk in your way, and reflect you as we do, so that on our day of judgement you will find us worthy, and seat us in your presence where we can worship you forevermore.
Rich Forbes