Title
Rise and Shine
Scripture
No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
(Luke 8:16)
Devotional
Do others know what you believe? Do they know about your faith, your hopes, and your desires? Why is it that we so often dim the lights of our lives? Why do we want to hide the very things that give us hope and life? Jesus furthermore said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”(1) We are not to hide our good works in the dark. They are to be seen. If you believe in what you do, do your best to make sure that others see it. The only reason we would hide our works is if we are either ashamed of how we work or of what we do. One of the best ways to let your light shine is through the lamp of accountability. That is, purposefully expose your doings. Give reports and bring to the light your works. Get out from under the bed. Get out and shine as brightly as you can.
(1) Matthew 5:16
Thought For The Night
“For some, Jesus is a good luck charm. The ‘Rabbit’s Foot Redeemer.’ Pocket-sized. Handy. Easily packaged. Easily understood. Easily diagrammed. You can put his picture on your wall or you can stick it in your wallet as insurance. You can frame him. Dangle him from your rear view mirror or glue him to your dashboard… Sightless and heartless… without power. That’s not the Redeemer of the New Testament.” Max Lucado, Six Hours One Friday, pp. 89–90.
Evening Text
Luke 8:16: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.”
Looking for Answers
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1 John 1:5 says, “God is light;” what does that mean?
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John 9:5 says, Jesus “is the light;” what does that mean?
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Matthew 5:14 says, we “are the light;” what does that mean?
Evening Study Guide
Defining: “The light of the world” is twofold: you and Christ.
Referencing: “You are the light of the world,” Matthew 5:14, “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world,’” John 8:12.
Applying: Shine! Shine in word and deed. Let us not blame the world for being in the dark, let us take the blame for not shining in the darkness.