Mark 4:21-25, Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12
Mark

²¹He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? ²²For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. ²³If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
²⁴"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. ²⁵Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

Matthew 5

¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
(NIV)

I think it is so interesting that Jesus calls us the light of the world, as we see in the Matthew passage, and also refers to himself as the light of the world in John. Of course, he is the greater light, for he is God's own Son. Just as the moon reflects the light of the son, we reflect the light of Jesus.

The light of God exposes darkness and sin, which can be a painful thing. This morning as I was walking my dog, Raven, I walked east for several minutes, right into the bright morning sun. I was glad to turn south and then west, still enjoying the warmth and light of the sun, but not gazing into its brilliance.

Exposure to the light can be painful, but is always beneficial. We are to bring the light of the love of Jesus to all we encounter. The passage in Mark goes on to say, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear," and Mark goes on to say that we need to consider carefully what we hear, and how we use what we hear.

God gives us eyes to see his light and ears to hear his word. May we be reflections of that Light and hearers of his teachings, seeking him as we impart his light and word to others.


- posted by Suzi @ 6:40 AM