Mark 4:21 (NIV)
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?
The purpose of a lamp is to aid us in seeing in dark and dim places. If a lamps’ light is hidden it is utterly useless. For instance, have you ever tried to walk around in the dark, even in a familiar setting? When there is no light in the physical, we fall, we stumble, bump our knees or stub our toes and boy does that hurt! To avoid walking timidly through rooms bent over with arms outstretched before us we turn on the light so we can clearly see and thus walk upright with confidence.
As it is in the natural so it is in the spiritual. Lamps are often symbolic of the light of God and His truth; which when applied helps us to maneuver in otherwise dark and barren places.
After receiving God’s truth, we are responsible for actively applying it in our lives. It is not enough to hear the truth but to be active participants in living it and sharing it as well. If we don’t and instead choose to cover the light with shades of envy, jealousy, unforgiveness, or dim it through lenses of complacency or rebellion we stumble and bruise ourselves unnecessarily.
So let us choose to examine ourselves daily to see if there is anything blocking God’s light. For our Christian walk should not just be in lip service, but should be a lifestyle; one that like a bright light can be clearly seen by all.
Prayer:
Abba Father, search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and help me to daily walk in Your will and let Your light shine before men that people will see Your truth reflected in my daily living and desire to know You. Amen
To God Be The Glory
The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.
