Too often I must say that I am too quiet and not willing to stand up and be counted or recognized for the one that I am. I am a child of God and that is certainly not something that I should be quiet about.

“¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In 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 5:14-16 (ESV)

I have studied this verse a number of times over the past few years and each time I was brought here as I studied a different word, this time studying the word “light”.

As a child of God it is my duty to stand tall for Him. I am lean on the courage supplied by Him to to the work He has for me. I am not to be ashamed, or timid, or concerned with the worldly consequences of my allegiance to Him. As Paul was willing to go to prison and ultimately killed for His devotion to God and all that God had for him to do, so should I.

Back in 2018, I was in a study of the word “world”, and wrote the below:

Jesus tells us in the verses above that our light should shine for others to see. As I read the commentary in one of my Bibles, we should:

1. Not be quiet when we should speak
2. Not be going along with the crowd
3. Not deny the light
4. Not let sin dim our light
5. Be explaining our light to other
6. Not ignore the needs of others

It is up to me to live the six points above each and every day as I go through this world. And as I do, I will bring glory to God as I do the work He has for me.

Are you letting your light shine? What are you doing to be the light? How can you be the light for God in your own life?

Every thing starts somewhere and at sometime. Jesus’ ministry had a beginning, and whereas, yes, he taught in the temple at about age 12, His official ministry began much later. That time is noted in the book of Matthew in chapter 4, where the one that came to prepare the way for Him, John the Baptist, was arrested and gave way to Jesus. Jesus moved to Capernaum and began His work just as had been prophesied by Isaiah.

“¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” – Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

It seems like such a redundant thing to me that Jesus had to “begin” His ministry, as my knowledge of Jesus has always been that of Savior and Lord. But just as everything else, it is a matter of perspective and timing. Had I been in that time, I would have been ignorant to Jesus and would have needed to be pointed in the direction of His ministry beginning.

Isn’t it similar today in that there are those that do not know of the glorious gift of salvation provided by Jesus’ death on the cross, and there are those that are not aware of the ministry of Jesus. His ministry is always beginning somewhere to and with someone. I am the bearer of that ministry in my life and have the duty to be sure that His word is spread for all to hear.

I have to remember that to me the ministry of Jesus began a long time ago, and as such, it is my duty to continue that ministry today in my life with those around me.

When you are out, what vision do you have of the ministry of Jesus? What awareness do you have of the beginning of His ministry? What part are you going to play in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry?

When it comes to light, I never thought of the idea of do I work for it, or does it work for me. This morning I am continuing my study of the “light” and was reminded of the idea that light is the servant of me. Yes, I work to provide the means by which I can get light, but the light itself serves my needs. When it is dark, it provides the way for me to see. When the path is covered, it provides the visibility as to which way to go. When things are dull around me, I use light to brighten things up.

“⁶…I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6b (ESV)

I read the passage above this morning and was illuminated (pun intended) to the service provided by Christ for me in this world. Christ is the light for the world. When things are dark, He lights it up. When the path is covered, He provides the visibility as to which way to go. When things are dull, He brightens them up. I am not able to continue without the light that is Christ.

How do you see light, as a servant or something you work for? What about Christ, how is it that you see Him? What can be done to remember Christ as the light and servant of your life?

I remember watching the movie with Jim Carrey, “Bruce Almighty”. And in the movie, “Bruce” is answering prayers as he fills in for God. Just when he thinks he has answered them all, painstakingly to him, reading through them all in email his email box refreshes and is filled with too many for him to work through. In the interest of answering all prayers, he selects them all and says “YES” to all the requests, only to awake the next day and the world is in disarray.

“⁷I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” – Isaiah 45:7 (ESV)

God is in control of all and every prayer is answered with precision. As we are communicating with God, He is listening intently, whenever and whatever that might be. He knows what is in store for me and begins to look at my requests and how that fits into the plans He has for me. And, if it fits as He has planned, then His answer is yes, if it does not, then the answer is no or here is something instead. Just because He does not give me what I want does not mean that He does not give me what I need.

God demonstrates to me daily that He has a purpose for me. He formed light and created darkness to show that He does have a purpose in all that He does. As a parent I have to say no to things in the interest of guiding my boys to better choices. God does the same for me. He guides me to make choices that glorify Him and keep me moving to complete the tasks He has laid out for me.

How are you accepting the answers God gives to your prayers? Are you looking for the answer of yes, or are you looking at how to glorify Him? What if you were to embrace that God demonstrates His purpose for you through His answers?

At one time or other, we all walk in darkness.

“²The people who walked in darkness have see a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined.” – Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

Here the words are depicting those who used to walk in darkness have found the light that is Christ. I am one of those that have found the light and now I have the privilege of walking in that light daily. The “deep darkness” is all around me, but I walk in the light that only Christ can manifest.

For me it does seem sometimes that darkness is taking over this world around me. I know that in society we experience many difficult moments and events that make it difficult to see the light. As that darkness is all around, Christ is there as the light in that darkness.

This morning as I went for my morning exercise, I passed by house with a powerful light illuminating an area, and as it shone toward me, my shadow was cast opposite the light. A few steps later, I was under the street light and as the light shone down on me, my shadow cast from that light shining toward me was gone.

The world is casting shadows all around us and it is difficult to make sense of it all. When we find ourselves in the light from above, Christ wipes out those shadows and gives us the protection from that darkness.

The light of Christ that shines from above is available for us all. The love and care of Christ is so strong and wide that all of the shadows around are wiped out when we are in the light that is Christ.

When you find yourself dealing with the darkness and shadows, where are you turning? Are you seeking the light from above? What if you were to look for the light as given by Christ, after all it is provided for all?

“⁵O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. ²It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, ³and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go the law and word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 2:5, 2-3 (ESV)

If you are reading like I did, the first thing that stands out is that the house of the LORD is atop a mountain. Not at the side of the sea, or near the open fields, or at the edge of town, but the “highest of the mountains”. And Isaiah is saying that the house of Jacob will come to the house of the LORD.

It is not easy to continue on the path to the LORD. The terrain is difficult and treacherous. The journey is long and tiresome. Not an evening stroll, but a strenuous uphill climb.

But, the reward is worth the trip. When we make the journey, we find the glory of the LORD. We learn His ways and establish our walk in the path He provides for us. I am glad for the journey and the prospect of finding the glory that lies ahead with Him.

I choose to follow the lighted path. The trip will be difficult, but the path is lighted making every step on solid ground. I will find the truth that is Christ and with that truth will have the learning to meet the challenges that lie in my path with confidence, strength, and resolve. I will overcome all that is presented because I am on the lighted path.

In the world, are you on the lighted path provided by God? What if you were to follow Him, taking that difficult road up the mountain? How much more would you learn as you travel in the light of the LORD?

This morning my prayer was for God to continue doing His work through me. To continue allowing me to see the work that He is doing through me. And what do you know, He led me to the passage for me to see He is listening.

“¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

It is something to feel as though I am doing the work of God and yet I am not able to see the results of that work. To walk away after completing the job you set out to do only to hear of, at a much later time, an impact that was recently made in the same area.

I have to remember that God has me doing a job for Him and that job is not for me. I am to walk in the path He has lighted for me. I am to do His work for His glory and rest knowing that I have been a good a faithful servant. I have fulfilled my task and He is well pleased.

I know that too often I look for the acknowledgment from man for the work that I have done and when that does not come, I am frustrated and disappointed. The reality is, it does not matter what man has to say, I am doing the work in the path lit by God for me and when I have fulfilled my duty to the task given, I have glorified God and I am now ready to take on the next task in the lighted path for me.

I use the light of God to bring Him glory and when I do so, He will encourage me by allowing me to see the fruit of my labor when the time is right for me to see.

What things have you done and felt that you were not acknowledged of even being there? Were you more focused on the end journey than on the light path and tasks given to you by God? What if you were to focus on the lighted path and work given in order to simply glorify God?

“¹³For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” – Psalm 56:13 (ESV)

I have nothing left to fear. Death has been taken from me and I have been freed to walk in peace. What is that peace but the light of God’s face which provides life for me.

Walking in the “light of life” is not something to take passively. I must continue to do the work of Christ in my life to which I will be bringing glory to God.

“¹²I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offering to you.” – Psalm 56:12 (ESV)

Now that I have been given the gift of eternal life, I owe a debt to God that can never be repaid. I know that sounds so permanent and that I am bound forever and will never be able to escape. But, God’s gift is just that, a gift. As I look at what my role is, I maintain that I should be thankful and accept the gift and reciprocate to the Father all that is in me without question or expectation of more than He has already given.

As I progress through this world, I am blessed to have been given the gift of salvation and with that I am able to delight in the light of His face as I continue. This world is not my final destination, and as I continue in and through it, I must continue giving glory to the one that provides for me, GOD.

Are you able to continue in this world knowing that you have been given a gift? Are you looking for more, or are you aware that the gift given is the ultimate? What are you doing to delight in the light provided by God and how are you honoring him?

Think about this for a moment, you are walking in the park at night and you suddenly need to stop and tie your shoe. You have the option of stopping right where you are or walking an addition 100 feet to where there is a street light. Where do you stop? I know for me, I would walk the additional 100 feet to get to the street light for a couple of reasons. 1) It would certainly be a little easier to tie my shoe if I can see what I am doing and 2) I would feel a bit more secure in the light than simply stopping where I was.

“¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1 (ESV)

I have a light to stop under at all times and that light is God. No, I am not saying that God provides the light for me to tie my shoe under. I have Him to provide the brightness that I can feel secure in as I cover this world. I do not have to be afraid of the world around me with the LORD lighting my way. The forces around me are in the dark and are not prepared for the light that the LORD provides. I am protected by simply living my life in the light of Christ.

Here is where it may be a bit confusing. Just accepting that the LORD provides the light for my path, does not mean that I have nothing else to do. I have to remain on the path. God has given me tasks to complete and as I am working through those tasks for God, He is providing the light for my protection. When I wander off the path is where I will find myself in danger of being devoured by the enemy. God is with me, always, I must remember that and when I do, I will bask in the protection He provides for me.

When you are in the world, are you sticking to the path lighted by the LORD? What have you experienced when you find you have wandered off the path? What protections have you benefited from as you have remained on the path lighted by God?

I just finished reading the book “FiSH” that lists out how to improve results at work and two of the ways are to “Be Present” and “Make Their Day”. God does this for us each day, especially when we ask Him.

“⁶There are many who say, ‘Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!’ ⁷You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” – Psalm 4:6-7 (ESV)

I see in these verses both of the concepts mentioned in the book I mentioned. God will “be present” as He shows us His face when we ask to speak with Him. He devotes His actions and time and attention to us as a father does for a child. There may not be anything that God does for us in that moment of attention, but He is there, listening and attentive to us as we let it out and “vent” things to Him. He allows us to speak to Him and he just listens intently to what it is we have to say.

He “makes their day” as well as he provides the hugs and care we are in search of in those times we come to Him. He holds us and spends the time with us as we are in need and during that time, His attention is there with us. He gives us more than just the monetary and physical, He give us joy and inner satisfaction that we do matter and for that I want more and know the way to get more is to ask and devote my time to Him just as He devotes His time to me.

God is there for us as a light, not just in the darkness, but also as security and provision. He is there with us when we ask and when with us, it is not just the cursory being in the room, He is there physically, mentally, and spiritually for us to draw on to satisfy the needs we have. I am grateful that God shows the light of His face for me to follow in all times.

What awareness do you have the God is present with you? What does it look like for your as God makes your day? How are you allowing God to demonstrate His presence through the light of His face in your life each day?