Mark 4:21-23
“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? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.””
Mark 4:21-23 NIV
Charles Spurgeon, a great preacher of his day, once said, “The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! You are the light of the world.”
I remember singing “This Little Light of Mine” as a child complete with exaggerated hand motions. Truth be told, I thoroughly enjoy singing it today. The song may be simple, but it teaches an important truth. Let’s go back to the reference that song gives us and discuss the parable of the lamp on the stand. What exactly does it mean and how do we apply it today? Can a simple children's song hold meaning for us as adults? Absolutely. We are also going to explore the much bigger picture of God as light and how that light is in the hearts of His children.
Confusion is one of the more frustrating states of mind. Not seeing clearly, not being able to perceive fully, or not being able to understand leaves us feeling silly or stupid. Jesus didn't want His followers to have any of these frustrations. He wanted His followers to know that all will be revealed about the Kingdom at the proper time. All "will be brought to light." Jesus didn't come to hide His message in a darkened room.
So our job is to listen and wait, always obeying what we understand and trusting that the confusing matters "will be brought to light." Our trust is in Jesus and His promises to reveal everything. We must not let our frustrations with what is concealed steal from us the things that we know today and the blazing light of truth that awaits us in the future.
So, let’s think about this. What’s Jesus saying? He is the lamp. His message is the light. This wasn’t brought to the world to be hidden. He came to bring light so people could see. Now, sometimes it seems like that wasn’t the case. Think about all the times Jesus explicitly told people who figured out who He was not to share the news. Why would He do that?
Well, put it in context. When you turn on a bright light in a dark room, is that helpful for the folks who were previously in the dark? No, right? It blinds them and they can’t see anymore than they could in the dark. The bright light all at once is painful. Instead, you start with a little light that isn’t direct and gradually get brighter from there. Thus Jesus slow and methodical approach.
But the purpose of light is to shine. It is to illuminate. It is to be seen. It is to reveal what is there. You might start with a dim light so it doesn’t overwhelm you, but once you have brought light into the world, you bring more and more and it gradually spreads to cover the space in which it is shining. If something was in the dark in a room where light is shining, it won’t be able to stay there. The light will cover the room. Everything hidden will be revealed.
That’s the second part of what He says here. Having our darkness revealed is a terrible thing to experience. It is made ever more terrible, though, when it happens at a time and place not of our own choosing. The safest thing to do in light of what Jesus says here, if anyone has ears to hear, let him listen, is to come clean now. Own up to your sin. Let the light of Christ shine now and reveal what’s hidden so you can experience the amazing grace His light brings. Then, walk in the light as He is in the light so you may enjoy to the fullest the life that is truly life.
People talk about their faith being a personal thing, kept in one's heart until revealed by God. The fact is, every action we do shows what we really believe. If we think that our beliefs and our actions are contrary, in all honesty, they are not. Our actions show our true faith. Our speech sometimes can describe what goes on in our heads, but we have a harder time expressing our belief than we do living it out!!!
Father thank You for this day and the light of Your Word that is illuminated and revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord we need patience, we are not good at waiting. Lord we want all the answers right now. However Lord we know that You have revealed what we need to know right now. Lord lead us to know Your Will and Your Truth more fully even as we are fully known by you. Lord we cling to Your promise, trusting that all will be made known to us in due time. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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