LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

“You are the light of the world—

like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand,

where it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Matthew 5:14-15 NLT
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Light is stronger than darkness! Even the tiny light on my electric tooth brush drives back the darkness in my bathroom. Wherever light appears, no matter how small, it pushes back darkness every time.

John 8:12 NLT records Jesus as saying, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Jesus is the ultimate light which drives back spiritual darkness. Since the fall of man, this world has been steeped in spiritual darkness which explains all the violence, hatred, greed and selfishness that goes on.

When we open our heart to Jesus, His light comes into our life, and makes us “lights of the world.” The light that now shines from us is the reflection of the Lord’s light; like moon light is a reflection of the sun. When the earth moves between the sun and the moon, the moon’s light is hidden. To the degree that we allow earthly (worldly) things to get between us and the Lord, a spiritual eclipse takes place, dimming our light.

Even if you haven’t sung the children’s song, “This little Light of mine,” you most likely have heard it. To refresh your memory, here is the main line of each verse.
“This little Light of mine, I’m going to let it shine….
Hide is under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine….
Don’t let Satan blow it out, I’m going to let it shine….
Shine all over the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine….
Let it shine ‘til Jesus comes, I’m going to let it shine….Let it shine, Let it shine.”

This simple song outlines a good practice not only for children but for adults as well. While a “little light” pushes back darkness, a brighter light will push back more darkness. The more we remove the worldly stuff from our lives which hides the light of Jesus, the more we will be able to LET our light shine on everyone around us.

Let’s Pray-
Lord, what an incredible privilege to reflect your light in this dark world. Help us to remove anything and everything from our lives that hinders us from letting our light shine.
Amen

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PRAYING FOR ALL PEOPLE

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

Ask God to help them;

intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority

so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives

marked by godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleases God our Savior.”
1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT
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We often focus mainly on our own personal needs when we pray. Our scripture today urges us to put the emphasis on others. In fact, it tells us to “pray for all people.” That includes people of different color – nationality – ethnic groups - financial status – level of education – political persuasion – denominational background. It includes praying for mature believers – new converts – seekers – the immoral – the addict, etc., etc. God’s Word urges us to widen the circle of people we are praying for to include everyone that touches our life in one way or another.

In the “all people,” Paul specifically calls attention to praying for heads of government and all in authority. Praying for them specifically is important because their decisions can effect whether we will have the freedom to “live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” Asking God to help those in authority is especially pertinent this week, as a new president and administration have come into power.

Our prayers should be more than just asking God to help people. We are also to make intercession for them. Intercessory prayer goes beyond just asking, it goes to the point where we are pleading with God on behalf of others. That’s serious praying! I don’t know about you, but I am afraid there aren’t too many people beyond my family and close friends for whom I truly intercede. I guess I need you to “ask God to help me.”

Numerous scriptures tell us that with the requests we bring to God, we should also bring thanks. And Paul urges us to do the same in this week’s passage - “Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them…This is good and pleases God our Savior.”

Let’s Pray –
Father, we thank you for the people who touch our lives. Help us to faithfully call on You to help them with the needs they face. Help us also to care enough for them to truly plead on their behalf. We ask this in our Savior’s name.
Amen

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WHAT HAS GOD DONE WITH OUR SINS?

“For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

is as great as

the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins

as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Psalm 103:11-12 NLT

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Sin is a part of everyone’s life and separates us from God. The only way we can come into a right relationship with Him is to repent of our sins and trust Him to forgive us. Repentance is more than just saying we’re sorry. It is turning away from our sin and believing that Jesus died in our place. No matter how repulsive our sin may have been, the blood of Jesus has the power to wash away every stain. In Bible times, ink writing on parchment could be wiped off with a damp rag. So Peter says in Acts 3:19 NLT “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” 1 John 1:7 NLT tells us that the blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin.”

Interestingly Isaiah 38:17 KJV says when God forgives, He “casts our sin behind His back.” And Psalm 32:1-2 NLT adds the thought that He puts our sin “out of sight” - implying God is no longer concerned about it – it’s taken care of! The Psalmist further says, “Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt.”

Jeremiah 31:34 NLT tells us something that’s even more incredible – “God will never again remember our sins.” When we forgive someone, we don’t hold it against them any more, but we will remember it. Not our God, “He will never think of our sins again.” Isaiah 43:25 NLT

And there is more! Micah 7:19 NLT tells us that “God will trample our sins under His feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” The deepest spot in the ocean is Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench near Japan. It is 35,840 feet below sea level. If Mount Everest could be placed in the bottom of this trench there would still be over a mile of water above its highest peak. THAT’S DEEP!!

Finally, our main promise today, Psalm 103:12 NLT assures us that “God has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” How far is that? Let’s think of it this way. If we thought of going around the world via the North and South Poles, we would start from where we live and go north until we got to the North Pole, then south to the South Pole, and then north again until we got home. That distance can easily be measured. However, if we are going to go around the world by going east we could go on forever and still be going east. The same is true if we go west. East and west never meet if you keep going in the same direction. OUR SIN HAS BEEN INFINATELY REMOVED FROM US. HALLELUJAH!!!

Let’s Pray-
Dear Father, if every breath we take were used to praise you, it would never be enough. Your love and grace are more than we can fathom. Your glory fills heaven and earth. Thank you for the forgiveness of sin. We are eternally grateful.
Amen


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PLEASING GOD MORE & MORE

“Dear brothers and sisters,

we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus

to live in a way that pleases God. . .

You live this way already,

and we encourage you to do so even more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT

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Since this is the beginning of a new year, I thought it might be a good idea to talk about making a fresh start with some things we know are pleasing to God. For instance, most of us read our Bibles and pray – that’s good - and that is pleasing to God.

But the question that creeps into my mind this time of year is: “Am I pleasing God more today than I did a year ago?” And it makes me feel uncomfortable, because it requires some heart searching, and implies that I may need to make some changes.

Slacking off in our devotional life comes about without any effort. It just happens if we aren’t careful. On the other hand, being more faithful requires conscious effort. It means setting new priorities and carrying them out. Reading God’s Word and praying is so elementary and yet so absolutely essential to a life that is pleasing to God. That’s how we have conversation with Him - He speaks to us and we speak to Him.

I find reading the same translation year after year causes me to become so familiar with the phrases that I have a tendency to pay less attention to the meaning. Reading a different translation helps me to hear God in a fresh and more meaningful way.

I don’t know about you, but my prayer life needs improving. I have a tendency to barge into God’s presence with requests, and more requests. This year I need to take to heart more what Psalm 100:4 says - “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.”

James 1:22 brings us to the bottom line in this matter of living lives that are more and more pleasing to God. His exhortation is “Don’t just listen to God’s word, BUT DO WHAT IT SAYS. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”To live a life that is increasingly pleasing to God is not accomplished by one GIANT step. It takes a lot of LITTLE steps, day after day, after day. It takes persistence.

Let’s Pray-
Father, you alone are worthy of all praise and adoration. Thank you for your invitation to come boldly into your presence. Thank you for your Word which shows us how to live. Help us to more faithfully put it into practice, bringing you more pleasure day after day.
Amen

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I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV

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Donna and I do most every together, mall walking, shopping, cooking, house cleaning, church activities, etc, etc., except yard work and gardening, that’s my job. We very seldom go anywhere alone. We like it that way.

The week before this last Thanksgiving I came down with a cold and bronchitis and Donna went to the morning church service by herself. Some time later when she thought about it she remarked; “that was really a lonely feeling to walk into that sanctuary by myself.” As I heard her say that it struck me, “Wow, at our age that has happened to a lot of our friends. They have lost their mate and now they are doing most everything by themselves.” Donna and I really don’t know how lonely and painful that must be. But over the years we have observed the Lord faithfully sustaining friends as they have gone through painful chapters in life.

We have just entered the new year of 2009, and we don’t know what life will bring during these next twelve months. Part of us wants to know, but God in His wisdom does not reveal that to us. It’s best for us not to know, but faithfully trust Him whether He allows pain or joy. His grace will enable us to grow stronger as we walk close to Him through whatever this new year brings. Trusting our Lord is what will enable us to have victory over fear of the future.

In 1950 Ira Stanphill wrote the popular song “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” Here is the first stanza and chorus:

“I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.”

Let’s Pray-
Thank you Father, that we need not fear the future because it’s in your hands.

We believe your promise that your plans for us are for good!

Help us to trust you without reservation.
Amen

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