Have You Put Your Lamp Under A Basket?

 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

We were talking to a woman the other day who we were considering giving a shed to. As it happened it did not work out, she did not meet the qualification criteria. Financial need. When I told her to qualify she could not have the financial resources to buy her own shed. She looked at me and said, "I can afford to buy one." I thanked her for her honesty.  A friend with me had some pocket New Testaments. He asked her if she needed a Bible and she said "no". So he asked if she would like to have one or two Bibles to give to her neighbors. It was at that point that she was no longer pleasant. She had a look of indignation, as if he had crossed a line. She said she didn't want the Bibles for that purpose either. We thanked her for her time and went on our way.

Our conversation with her reminded me of Matthew 5. As Christians we have a clear mandate from God - go and tell others - be witnesses - not just with our words only but with our actions. Why would we want to hide our faith from others? None of the reasons are good.  I am certain you know people who were over bearing in their witness. They would press others as if it was intensity of the witness that would sway the heart. In fact, it is the Spirit of God that sways the heart. God uses our lives as lights in a dark world. Our verbal witness must be consistent with how we live and love. Dr. John Maxwell said, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." 

Did you catch that? Would that woman's neighbors have been surprised to discover that she was a Christian? Perhaps or perhaps she was not a Christian at all and my friend asked her to do something that was contrary to her carnal nature. 

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

When you share spiritual truth with a person who is not a Christian it is like speaking a foreign language to them. Apart from the Spirit at work in them, they will not receive it. Casting seed on hard or rocky soil. What is my point? We must be spiritually prepared and spiritually aware. When the Lord gives us opportunity (prompted by the Spirit) to speak we should. When we are given opportunity to do - we should act. That requires spiritual discernment which requires spiritual preparation. 

As we talked with the woman, I sensed that she had a heart that was hard toward God - for whatever reason. It saddened me actually. But I know that most of the world will respond to the Gospel in the same way. They are headed for the wide gate that leads to their destruction. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone