What Light Will Shine from Us?

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:59 pm Post subject: What Light Will Shine from Us?

What Light Will Shine from Us?

Scripture:

Deal your bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harborless into your house: when you shall see one naked, cover him, and despise not your own flesh. Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall speedily arise, and your justice shall go before your face, and the glory of the Lord shall gather you up. Then shall you call, and the Lord shall hear: you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you will take away the chain out of the midst of you, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak that which profits not. When you shall pour out your soul to the hungry, and shall satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall your light rise up in darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.
(Isaiah 58:7-10)

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ: and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in showing of the Spirit and power: That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:13-16)

Reflection:

As we look at our situation of cares, we are tempted to overlook those with concerns much bleaker than ours. We are also drawn to believe, there is nothing we can do for the suffering, for our own woes burden us and we have no energy for others. We are tempted to gossip of petty things to seek sympathy or to score political points, but resolving nothing; for it is what we do for others which addresses need. We must not stop simply at encouragement only with our speech. (cf. James 2:14-26)

Sometimes, the need is immediate; the call to provide food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and care for those who have no means of their own. Perhaps the need arises as a result of disaster; man-made or natural. Perhaps the need arises because of oppression by or the greed of dark hearts. Perhaps the need arises because of irresponsibility or simple laziness. Perhaps the need arises through a combination of unfortunate circumstances. What reveals what is within our hearts is the compassion by which we act. It is by what we do through which the light of the Lord shines.

The harder work before us is to remove the conditions which produce the less fortunate. Sometimes the need is to work with people to enable their knowledge and skills. Sometimes the need is to help others overcome physical afflictions. Sometimes the need is to remove obstacles to opportunity. Sometimes the need is to enable opportunity through which righteousness may grow. Sometimes the need is to remove the enticements to the deadly behaviors of vanity, envy, greed, wrath, lust, gluttony, and laziness. Sometimes the need is to encourage the virtues of humility, kindness, charity, forgiveness, chastity, temperance, and diligence. Sometimes the need is encouragement to gain the blessings of spiritual gifts through which to share the blessings of all to which God calls us. (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)

The light which shines forth to the world is fueled by the fire of all which is right and just in the eyes of the Lord. For this reason, we must seek to learn the wisdom which comes to us through His Holy Word. To teach us, God sent to us the Word made flesh, His only begotten Son. He was sent to us as the light, not only to lead us from the darkness (cf. John 8:12), but to spark within us the light by which the will and glory of God might be seen.

Though the evil one sought to extinguish the light through the crucifixion of the Light, the Light of His Holy Word left behind many hearts enkindled with His flame. As one candle may be used to light the flame of another, so may the flame within our hearts be used to ignite the flame of God's Holy Truth within the hearts which surround us. Perhaps, then, we may observe that there is a reason why the evil one endeavors to extinguish the flame of faith within us so that he might expand the darkness. The question, as we face the tactics of the devil, is; will we allow the flame within us to ignite the flame of another, or will we allow our flame to die so the darkness may claim all it envelopes?

The light of truth shines through charitable endeavors and righteous works. It shines through all the ways we care for those who cross our path. It shines through those we encourage and enables those who receive it to do what is right and just. The flame of the Lord grows in intensity as it spreads from heart to heart.

Let us, then, allow the Holy Spirit to enkindle the flame of all goodness within us. Let us allow His light to draw us from the coldness, anguish, and misery of the darkness. Let us allow Him to lead us in how we may share of His light to help light the way for those who cross our path. Let us allow His Holy Word to stoke the fire within our heart so that we may share of its warmth and allow it to guide us on the path to His kingdom.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we let our light shine upon the less fortunate?

In what ways do we seek and share the light of the wisdom of the Lord?

In what ways do we share the Light of the Word with those who cross our path?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier