The radiance of simple goodness

“This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." we sang the words, while holding up our index finger like a candle, urged on by our Sunday School Director.  When I was 5 years of age, I was not really sure what it meant to 'let it shine' but it seemed like a good thing to do since Mrs. McDaniel enthusiastic about it. Our song wasn't about our brilliance.  We weren’t being encouraged to make a great impression with our accomplishments, or to build a powerful image of invincibility, or to dazzle others with our success. We were taking up the call of Jesus Who said, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16, NLT)  We shine as we love and care in the name of Jesus Christ! Simple as the little song, isn’t it?  

"Letting it shine' is about consistently doing what He teaches me to do in the Gospels. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." Perhaps we should sing it in church today? This world needs the Light - desperately. Darkness swallows too many lives. Greed blinds so many to real wealth. The filth of pornography, a $billions business, darkens God’s gift of sexuality. Rape and murder are so common in some neighborhoods the news does not even report it any longer; darkness indeed! Boasters, braggarts, crooks, and thieves are made heroes in our entertainment; the good and whole mocked as naïve.  Yet, Jesus says that there is a radiance that shines into these dark corners from Christians committed to being good- loving, kind, humble, serving, generous, encouraging, authentic. Ah, yes, my light, by itself, seems pitifully small but when combined with millions of lights, we can light up the world! Believe it.

Ten years ago, Lee Strobel, described his visit to a Billy Graham crusade in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. The evangelist, then 86, was helped from his walker to the pulpit where he delivered the Gospel, just as he has for a half century! Strobel wondered why his light shone so brightly. Among his conclusions: "His behavior is consistent with his beliefs... the man is genuine... he is a man without shadows." - (Outreach Magazine, March/April, 2005) Unlike so many high profile Christians, Graham has never been discredited by financial shenanigans, by sexual escapades, or by pandering to the crowd with prosperity promises. There are no 'yes, but...' parts to Billy Graham "A man without shadows..." what a description! Graham was and is simply a servant of Jesus Christ, not perfect, but authentic. He is a living example of ‘letting your good deeds shine out for all to see.’

Want to be a light to your world?   Know this:  we only reflect the True Light. Like the moon that has no radiance of its own, we reflect the Glory of the Son. Jesus is the Light of the World. His radiance, like the light of the sun, makes life possible, gives a kind of energy to the world, and allows us to see our way clearly. Does it shine from you, Christian? Is there a wholeness and holiness about you that lets the Radiance of Christ reflect brightly into the lives of your family, friends, and partners at work?

Here is a word from the Word. May the truth help you see the glorious mission and destiny God has for you – to be a light in dark places.  "You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:5-7, NLT)

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Shine, Jesus, Shine

Lord, the light of Your love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness shining.

Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth You now bring us.

Shine on me, shine on me.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence

From the shadows into Your radiance.

By the blood, may I enter Your brightness.

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.

Shine on me, shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness

So our faces display Your likeness,

Ever changing from glory to glory.

Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story.

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine!

Fill this land

With the Father's glory!

Blaze, Spirit, blaze!

Set our hearts on fire!

Flow, river, flow!

Flood the nations

With grace and mercy!

Send forth Your word, Lord,

And let there be light!

Graham Kendrick © 1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Salt in the Soup

Cooking up a pot of hearty soup on a cold winter day is a thing of pleasure for me. I find simple delight in combining all those ingredients, simmering them and filling the house with the comforting smell of dinner! In my opinion, it is just about impossible to make a good soup without some salt. It brings out the other flavors. Too little, a bland soup; too much, a ruined soup, inedible!

Jesus said that Christians are to be the salt in the soup of life; that we are called to bring out the best in the world in which we are a part. Interesting, isn’t it, that He would choose ‘salt’ to describe the way that His followers should influence others. Salt, in Jesus’ time, was not just a flavor. It was also a primary preservative for meat and an antiseptic for wounds. Salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used like currency, hence the saying, ‘worth his salt.’  When we are being who He calls us to be, we will preserve the world around us from rot and decay, we will be healers who restore health to society.

Critics often take note of the excesses and sins committed in Christ’s Name. I cannot ignore that many have wrapped their own prejudice and preference in the guise of ‘Christian’ and done some terrible things. It is also true that the followers of Jesus have blessed the world in powerful ways. Christianity brings a high regard for human life, teaching the value of all people in the eyes of God. Christians have been in the forefront of advocacy for the rights of others- resisting slavery, speaking against exploitation of children, attacking sex trafficking. Christians have brought literacy and medical care to places around the world. Christians highly value the family, knowing that a stable, loving home is a key to a prosperous society. Yes, I know, there are hypocrites in the movement! But, study history. For every flawed ‘Christian’ there are hundreds of sincere servants of Christ who salted the earth in positive ways.

Jimmy Williams, of Probe Ministries, writes that
“Renaissance popes are not Christianity; St. Francis of Assisi is. Pizarro and Cortez are not Christianity, Bartolome de Las Casas is.Captain Ball, a Yankee slave captain, is not Christianity, Wilburforce is.” His full essay can be read here - (https://www.probe.org/the-social-and-historical-impact-of-christianity/)

Christians are too often dazzled by the prophet or preacher who makes a big splash, who attracts a big following, who builds a mega-church. “Oh, he is changing the world,” they say with something akin to idolatry! I am not demeaning major ministries or nationally known teachers. God bless them as they are faithful to His call. My point is that each one of us has a unique place and way to serve. One voice from a pulpit can never replace a hundred people serving in their community or a million faithful Christian Moms and Dads passing the faith to the next generation. Salt works only in proximity to the place of need. A shaker full of salt on the table is useless until the salt is sprinkled on the food!

Here is a word from the Word.  As you read this familiar passage, do so prayerfully, asking the Spirit to make the implications of Jesus’ metaphor clear to you. Ours is a critical and high calling. Ready to embrace it? “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13-16, NLT)

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Take My Life And Let It Be

Take my life and let it be,

Consecrated Lord to Thee.

Take my moments and my days;

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be,

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,

Always only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be,

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal | Henri Abraham Cesar Malan

© Words: Public Domain

A sordid story changed by LOVE

The old prophet told a horrible tale about a baby, despised at birth, left to die in a vacant lot, who was rescued and raised to become a woman of beauty. Her husband provided lavishly for her - "I dressed you in a colorful gown and put leather sandals on your feet. … You were provided with everything precious and beautiful: with exquisite clothes and elegant food, garnished with honey and oil. You were absolutely stunning. You were a queen! You became world-famous, a legendary beauty brought to perfection by my adornments." (Ezekiel 16:10-14, The Message) Despite being given all she could desire, she became promiscuous, giving herself and her honor away. Her sin led to her complete destruction and yet her husband did not ultimately reject her! You can read the entire allegory, which is graphic and stunning, in Ezekiel 15.

Who is Ezekiel describing? The city of Jerusalem, the people of God. They were beloved, yet they took other gods, rejected the Lord, and threw away their honor! Still, God pursues His people and the story closes with a promise of renewed love! "Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. … I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 16:60-63, NLT)

You may be wondering if that old story has anything to do with you or me, at all? Yes, it does! We are created to be His own, made to love Him and enjoy His favor. Like Jerusalem of old, the Church is called “God’s wife.” We, individually, are promised to Him in love. Tragically, in spite of all of His goodness, so many chase after lesser gods and give themselves to sin. Our wandering leads us to broken places of sorrow, shame, guilt, and regret and yet God offers healing and restoration – made possible at His expense and mercy.  Ezekiel’s graphic tale is really a story of grace. The same plot line repeats again and again in the pages of His Word. Jesus told parables of rescue that Luke recorded for us – a lost coin, a lost lamb, a lost son. God loves and seeks us. What amazing grace!

The Psalm celebrates the heart of the Lord - "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust." (Psalm 103:8-14, NLT)

Nations, churches, even individuals who have spurned the ways of the Lord can find renewal, but will we? Or will we continue to substitute trinkets for treasure, cheap thrills for genuine love?  God, Who loves us, is waiting for us to come home to Him. Will we? Or, will we believe the lie that He has rejected us forever? Another prophet, moved by the Spirit, extends the invitation. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1-3, NIV)

So, whether you are a Christian of many years or a seeker at the doorway looking into God’s love, here is a word from the Word. Let the wonder of grace bring joy to you this day.

"Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. …  

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. …

Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." (Romans 5:1-11, NLT)

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And Can It Be?

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me who caused His pain,

For me who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love, how can it be,

That Thou my God shouldst die for me?

He left His Father's throne above,

So free, so infinite, His grace.

Emptied Himself of all but love

And bled for Adam's helpless race!

'Tis mercy all immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature's night.

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray-

I woke - the dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread,

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine.

Alive in Him, my living Head

And clothed in righteousness divine;

Bold I approach th'eternal throne

And claim the crown through Christ my own!

Charles Wesley | Thomas Campbell

© Words: Public Domain

Jerry D. Scott, Pastor

Faith Discovery Church

Washington, NJ  07882

http://www.FaithDiscovery.com