Purpose - Let The Light Shine

Psalm 87

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Psalm of ^(A)the Sons of Korah. A Song.

87 On ^(B)the holy mount ^(C)stands the city he founded;
²     the Lord ^(D)loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
^3 (E)Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O ^(F)city of God. Selah

⁴ Among those who ^(G)know me I mention ^(H)Rahab and Babylon;
    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with ^(I)Cush^[a]—
    “This one was born there,” they say.
⁵ And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her”;
    for the Most High himself will ^(J)establish her.
⁶ The Lord records as he ^(K)registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah

^7 (L)Singers and ^(M)dancers alike say,
    “All my ^(N)springs are in you.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+87&version=ESV)

 

Isaiah 49:6

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
^(A)I will make you ^(B)as a light for the nations,
    that ^(C)my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+49%3A6&version=ESV)

Matthew 5:14-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

^14 (A)“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ^15 (B)Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so^(C)that^[a] they may see your good works and ^(D)give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A14-16&version=ESV)

The purpose of the Jewish people, God’s chosen people, was not for them to be the only ones to love God or for God to love only them, it was for them to share to all the nations about God’s love.  I used to be confused by the thought of Jews being God’s chosen people.   I thought since they were “chosen” God must love them more.  Then I realized that He loved the Gentiles just as much but chose the Jewish race to send that message to the Gentiles.  The Jews messed up quite a bit in their role as the light to the world yet God still used them to get the message out to the Gentiles, otherwise  I would not be writing this blog today.  If there would not have been a Jewish woman to take the burden of baring a son at a young age, and a step-dad to accept that son as the Son of God, I could not be resting in the love of Christ.

Let’s speed ahead to the year that I was born.  If I had not been born into a family that loved God and kept His statutes I may not be writing this blog.  Going backwards again,  if someone would not have told my Granddad about our Lord and Savior his life would not have changed and I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog.  The essence of what I am thinking today is that we need to be that light to this dark world.  The Jews were called to do this and we see it fulfilled through Jesus when He came to be a light to this dark world.  Now He has called on those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose, to be the light amongst those who live in darkness.

Are you doing that today?  Are you living a life that shines brightly?  Are you letting the light of Jesus shine through you so that others may know that He is God?  Or is your life much like the Jews, bowing to other idles, being fearful and afraid to trust, wandering in the desert because you have no idea of your true direction?  These are tough questions but ones that need to be answered by each of us individually.  If you find that your light is burning dimly remember to stop what you are doing, seek Him, and ask for His bright light to once again shine so that you and those around you can be guided by His light.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila