Articles
Meant to be Used
Meant to Be Used
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). I was cleaning out a desk drawer when I found a flashlight I hadn't used in over a year. I flipped the switch but wasn't surprised when it gave no light. I opened the flashlight and shook it to get the batteries out, but they wouldn't budge. Finally, after some effort, they came loose. What a mess! Battery acid had corroded the entire inside of the flashlight. The batteries were new when I'd put them in, and I'd stored them in a safe, warm place, but there was one problem. Those batteries weren't made to be warm and comfortable. They were designed to be turned on, to be used. (From Ted Engstrom). The same is true with us. The Christian is not designed to be warm, safe, and comfortable. He must be "turned on," letting his light shine, putting his love to work, diligently teaching God's word at every opportunity, and bearing up under persecutions and hardships.
Cutting Holes in the Darkness
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16). At age twelve, Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island) was looking out into the dark from his upstairs window, watching a man light the street lamps. Stevenson's governess came into the room and asked what he was doing. He replied, "I am watching a man cut holes in the darkness." I see this as a marvelous picture of what our task should be as sharers of God's light - people who are busy cutting holes in the spiritual darkness of our world. (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S. Hewett, p178-179) Paul said, "...That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..." (Phil. 2:15-16).
Food For Thought:
“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.” (Roy T. Bennett)
“Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness.” (Helen Keller)
“A pessimist is one who is always blowing out the light to see how dark it is.”
Leftovers
Author Unknown
Leftovers are such humble things,
We would not serve them to a guest,
And yet we serve them to our Lord
Who deserves the very best.
We give him leftover time,
Stray minutes here and there,
Leftover cash we give to Him,
Such few coins as we can spare.
We give our youth unto the world
To hatred, lust and strife;
Then in declining years we give
To Him the remnant of our life.
