Light Meant to Shine

Light Meant to Shine
Words of Faith 11-20-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 4
[21] He 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? [22] For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

One thing that we know about Jesus is that He is Light. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it (John 1:1-30). When we dwell in Him and He dwells in us then His light is within us. God has a purpose for the light He has put in you.
Jesus used a sort of silly example. A candle or lamp does not belong under a bowl or a bed. The image is either silly or dangerous! A lamp or a candle that is hidden not only fails to fulfill its intended purpose, but at the very least it goes out when covered. At the worst, it starts a fire!
But often we hide the light of Christ that is in us. It is easy to fall into that trap. We may be trying to fit in with the crowd, so we conveniently fail to mention the reason for our convictions. Those around us draw the conclusion that we are simply "nice people." The light is under a bowl and we are the bowl.
Or, we may sequester ourselves from any contact with the darkness. It is easy at times to simply surround ourselves with only Christian friends and families. There is certainly comfort and safety in this pattern of life. But once again our light is hidden. The purpose of the light that Jesus has put into us is not being fulfilled.
Interestingly, hidden light does not burn long undercover. These things that are hidden are meant to be disclosed. The things concealed are meant to be brought out into the open and eventually, they will. There comes that day when we must make a decision among friends. Either we are among the "People of Jesus," or we are not. Either we will claim him or we will not.
If you doubt this, just ask a fellow named Peter. One night he found himself in the courtyard of a high priest named Caiaphas. The man he had pledged himself to was being interrogated inside the house. Peter warmed himself by the fires of those outside for a while but then the moment of truth came. A young girl asked him if he knew this Jesus. Three times he was asked and three times he denied, and painfully this was a night he would never forget.
Of course, Peter was later restored in his relationship to Jesus. We should not miss the fact that the light of Jesus is intended to shine in us and through us in the most difficult of situations.
Is the Light of Christ shining in your corner of the world? In your neighborhood? In your workplace? In your school? Don't hide it. Don't deny it.

Lord, let Your light so shine in me that You will be glorified and others will come to know You. Give me courage to speak up and allow your light to shine through me on every occasion where there is opportunity. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.