Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – 1/15/2018

We 

Daily Scripture

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ~Matthew 5:14-16

Study

Light of the world – You are the light of the world. You are the instrument which God chooses to make use of to illuminate the minds of men; as He uses the sun to brighten the earth.  The sun makes objects visible, shows their form, their nature, their beauty, their deformities.

City that is set on a hill – Many of the cities of Judea were placed on the sides of mountains and could be seen from afar. The city was visible, and Jesus told his disciples that they were like that. Our actions are not hidden for the eyes of the world are on us. We are seen by believers and unbelievers and so our lives ought to be holy, harmless, and undefiled. The Christian life is something set high, and we cannot arrive without pain: while it separates us from the earth and carries us nearer heaven – our relationship with Jesus places us in view of the world.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. – John 8:12

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. – Psalm 119:105

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. – Acts 13:47

⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them. ⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ⁹ (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) ¹⁰ Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. – Ephesians 5:7-14

Meditation

Jesus doesn’t just say that He is the light of the world. With Him alive in us, we are the light of the world too. We don’t have to back down or shy away from our faith. Declaring the goodness of God, we’ve seen in our lives puts Him on display for those that have yet to place their faith in Him.

A light shining in the darkness cannot be ignored. When we shout our praise, God is glorified, and people take notice. We aren’t just called to show His light, though. We are called to share it with the world.

I found it interesting to be reminded that in and of itself darkness does not exist. Darkness is the absence of light. Light has so much power that when it is on darkness must leave. Let there be light! Darkness must flee.

Wherever the Word comes, the light comes, and the darkness has to flee. I suppose then if you are sick of the darkness surrounding your life speak the Word – out loud, boldly, and persistently – until the darkness flees.

Prayer

Lord, today I thank You that You are the Light. I thank You that anything of me that is good comes directly from You and is solely because of my relationship with You. Holy Spirit, I ask that You shine Your light on any area of my life that needs change to be in Your perfect will. I ask for the grace to make any, and all changes and I ask You to remind me to keep my eyes only on You as I walk this journey. If I stumble, help me to get up quickly and look to You before I look or listen to others. Lord, I thank You for setting my feet on solid ground and giving me shepherds that love You first and foremost and love the sheep that You have placed into their flock. I ask You Jesus to touch my shepherds and give them health, divine blessings, and increased wisdom and revelation. Help them always to be confident of the walk and the Words that you anoint them to share. Help us as their flock to love and honor and follow the vision that You have placed in their hearts. Help me, Jesus, also to stay in places of prayer and the Word so that I may KNOW You. I ask this all in Jesus precious and holy Name. Amen! I love you so much, Jesus.