The Light Stand 🕯️

I have seen the Lord,

I will speak of Him...

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Matthew 5:15MSB, 16NKJV

If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

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The Bible is not the light of the world,

it is the light of the church.

For the world does not read the Bible,

the world reads christians.

YOU are the light of the world.

#copied (Charles Spurgeon)

A lot has been said about letting the light of God shine through our lives by living as children of light. Because we already know all this, our focus today will be on a related subject ~ one that we probably don't emphasize as much as the former. It's the one thing that in one way or the other keeps us from shining "too bright", or makes us conceal that light when in certain rooms (those that God purposefully positioned us in so we'd shine His light). 

If you're like me, you already know what this is about 🙂. Shame has a way of locking us in and keeping us from being true and faithful messengers of Light. It's time we tear down those walls, don't you think? I don't know about you, but as for me, I want to live unapologetically for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Though I have been, to some extent, letting His light shine through my life, I want to take it higher. I want to do it much more differently. I want to do it UNASHAMED. Let's bring down those walls now, shall we?

When I think of "The Light Stand", I can't help but picture how the stand makes that light-source the focal point of attention, especially if in the darkest of rooms. As someone who is very self-conscious, I know I would never want to attract such kind of attention...it would make me very uneasy. When it comes to matters regarding faith and spirituality, it's even worse because Scripture expressly says: 

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John 3:19 NKJV

And this is the condemnation, 

that the light has come into the world, 

and men loved darkness rather than light, 

because their deeds were evil. 

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Jesus, the true light that gives light to everyone, was neither recognized nor received by those He came to save (John 1:9-11). In any case, the world hated Him (John 15:18). Jesus made a point of warning His disciples that they too would be hated and persecuted because of Him. That should explain that there is a cost to be paid by anyone who is a true light-bearer. It's that cost that keeps us from shining our light when on the light stand. It profits little when ours is a very private kind of salvation ~ the kind that's "hidden under a bucket"...the kind that blends in with the world and assimilates the darkness instead of standing out. Now hear this: God is counting on us to shine our light, especially in the darkest of rooms. 

Why then is it so hard for us to boldly take up our rightful position on that light stand? Take a look at this: 

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John 12:42-43 NIV

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. 

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Before any fingers are pointed🙂, realize that this rightly mirrors the state of many of us. We are either afraid or unwilling to pay the cost so we devise ways to keep our Light hidden. We have dulled our Light so as to win man's approval instead of glorifying God by letting it shine. We shy away from professing our faith and belief in God because of the shame and ridicule that is bound to follow. We are afraid of living by the principles of God's Word openly because we don't want to be insulted and considered old-school and archaic. We are ashamed of His ways because it makes us appear odd and strange among the "great" people of this world. Worse still, it could even make us lose certain friendships, lucrative career opportunities and  valuable connections in high places. The list goes on and on...

That said, is that really what God expects of us? I don't think so... Ours is not supposed to be a spirit of fear and timidity. When we cry out to God for help against shame, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the spirit of boldness. God wants us to be valiant for Truth while we're in this world. We are not to be intimidated. Nothing and no one should stop us from being true messengers of Light. It's time we go all out, be wild, and let nothing hold us back. Here's what Scripture says: 😊

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Matthew 10:25-28 MSB

Be content--pleased, even--when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. 

If they call me, the Master, "Dungface,' 

what can the workers expect?

"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now. Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. 

There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands.

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If we truly knew the magnitude of what Jesus did on the cross, we would never hold back in a bid to avoid embarrassment from those around us. He was willing to die that shameful death on the cross. For our sake He was despised, rejected and ridiculed. He did not hold back because of the shame. Question is, 'Would we do the same for Him?' Are we truly willing to crucify our flesh daily, with all it's pride and selfish desires, in order that we may live a life that is pleasing to Him in every way? Are we willing to deny ourselves, die a thousand deaths, and lose our lives for Him and for the sake of the Gospel? Are you? 

Difficult as it seems, this is exactly what He requires of us ~ dying daily so His life may be manifested in ours... The "Way of the Cross" we call it 😊. 

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Mark 8:34-35 NIV, 38 MSB

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels." 

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I know for sure that I wouldn't want that last verse to be my fate. I'd want Him to be immensely proud of me...to pat me on the back and show me off to His Father and to the angels. I'd want Him to take pride in me . For this reason, I too will take pride in Him right here, right now 😊. This then is my declaration (could be yours too 🙂):

Dear Jesus, 

It's taken us a while to get here, but I'm grateful that You were patient with me. I think I'm now ready to live unapologetically according to Your Word, and to speak unashamedly of Your ways...all this as the Holy Spirit empowers me day by day.

I will boldly declare Your name and Your words in whatever way I can. I will not be ashamed to call You my Lord. I will not be ashamed to be called Your own. I will not be ashamed to say that I believe You died and rose again for my salvation. I will not be ashamed to say that I love You. 

No matter where I am, I will not shy away from identifying myself as Your own. I am willing to die a thousand deaths. I am willing to be deemed the most foolish among men for Your Name's sake. I will take pride in the message of the cross, for it is indeed the power of God that brings salvation to all who believe. Whatever it takes, I am ready.

I will boast of You for You died for me. I will glory in You alone. I will proudly rejoice in You. Here on this altar, I lay down my pride, my ego, my self-consciousness, my need for man's validation -- everything that's been keeping me from letting my Light shine... I lay it all down. I am ready to speak in the daylight what You have told me in the dark. I am ready to proclaim from the roofs what You have whispered in my ear. I will hide You no longer... I will let my light shine... I will light up the world. 

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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed ~ a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'the righteous will live by faith.' 

(Romans 1:16-17 NIV) 

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He wore my sin...

I'll gladly wear His Name.