The call to be (salt and) light comes from Jesus’ sermon on the mount, but the ability to be light comes from Jesus himself.

God made His light shine into our hearts, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:1-11, giving us knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Christ. The Christ-light shines not only in us but then through us (doesn’t it!!) to the glory of God – so says Jesus and that makes it real.

But this treasure of light/knowledge that we have in our hearts is displayed in ever-so-fragile jars of clay as Paul says “to show that this all-surpassing power is from God” and not from us.

Prayer for the Week

Oh Lord God, make it happen – use me, use us, use all of us to your glory in the name of Jesus. Let me shine in my city; let me shine in my home, let me shine all around the neighborhood… I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, all the time, let it shine!

Amen.

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalms 103:13-18

• Read: verses 13-18 twice.
  

• Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
  

• Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Here, Jesus compares his disciples to a city on a hill, to a lamp in a house, bringing light to our surroundings.

It makes sense to have a lamp strategically placed in a home for greatest impact, and a city placed on a hill for best view. Similarly God has you strategically placed in your setting.

But also hear this: A city doesn’t force itself to muster up light, it simply emanates it while existing. A lamp does not think “I must produce light!” but rather does so as part of its nature.

Once in Christ, as followers we (by our spiritual nature) produce a godly light. May God be glorified in those lights, Amen!

Prayer

Father God, in my spirit I believe the truth of your Son Jesus that I am a light in this world. Let your Spirit fill my spirit that I might shine with your love, displaying a facet of your own heart and will to others. 

Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 103:13

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Teaching or Command of God:

Deuteronomy 10:12

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…

The Promise:

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.

In Christ I am a light for the world, not to be hidden.  I will let my light shine before others so that they may see my good deeds and glorify my Father in heaven.

Jesus says that as lights we are like lamps. Lamps in previous days were in homes, but in modern times they have made it out to street corners, parking lots, and places that otherwise would not get light during the night.

That's a great analogy for us modern day people: God has strategically placed us in spaces that otherwise might be left “in the dark”.

He has also shaped is for those environments. Now God can make us lamps beautiful, decorative, stately and tall – or not; but if a lamp does not cast light, it really becomes useless regarding its original purpose.

Embrace your true purpose: Love the Lord God with all our heart and love our neighbor as yourself. In doing so we become a light to the world and God is glorified in us.

Prayer Prompt

Consider yourself as a lamp in your current locations: Are you a street lamp? A home lamp? Are you a parking lot lamp? Has he parked you somewhere unique? Has he placed you in a home? Has he put you in a busy intersection of life? Consider where he is that he is asking you to cast light for others to see Him.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 103:14

For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Teaching or Command of God:

Isaiah 43:1a

This is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear…"

The Promise:

Isaiah 43:1b

"…for I have redeemed you;  I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

When it comes to your identity as a light, review with our Father if you’ve become overly-focused on your identity as one fitting into your environment form-wise rather than functioning for your environment faith-wise.

The widow in Luke 21:1-4 is our example of light-shining today: How does her giving relate to being a light in this world? The widow with her mite provides a light for God (Jesus) to enlighten others with insights about giving attitudes – and God is definitely glorified by her in this situation.

Ironically, some might view her ‘light-giving’ as minimal in this environment. Yet she was, by Jesus’ estimation, the most powerful light there, strategically-placed to serve the purpose God intended. We don't need to be anything other than we are -- in godly form.

And that godliness comes naturally to or spirits as we are walking with the Spirit, following Jesus, and hanging with our Father and his family.

Prayer Prompt:

• Review (your day, week, or life),
• Repent (of any identified sins),
  
• Return (if necessary).

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalms 103:15-16

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Teaching or Command of God:

1 Peter 1:23 & 1 Peter 1:24

You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God…

“…All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall…"

The Promise:

1 Peter 1:25

…but the word of the Lord endures forever.”  This is the word that was preached to you.

Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Discipleship Point:
A mite-y God Gift for an Almighty God

I understand some of Jesus’ teachings are in a sense “laws” or “rules” that require personal discipline (sacrifice) in my lifestyle in terms of time, energy, relationships, money, even sleep at times. I also recognize and believe that I am expected to follow not merely out of obligation, but more so out of love for God and moved by His Spirit. (from Covenant of Discipleship at Hope)

The size of a gift is not as important as the size of the heart giving. Jesus can multiply whatever gift is given to meet the needs of any given situation, like when he fed 5000 with a mere 5 loaves and 2 fish from a young boy. In the Widow's Mite, she is giving all she had whereas others gave out of their plenty. Their gift required little to no sacrifice, hers required total sacrifice and total trust. Where are you when it comes to your giving? Are you at place of high and great sacrifice? Little to no sacrifice? Is your heart involved?

Discipleship Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to be a godly giver, a faithful giver, a “Mite-y giver” to an Almighty God. I want my gift to flow out of a heart of thanksgiving, of trust, and of praise to you for all you are and all you do in my life.

Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalms 103:17-18

But from everlasting to everlasting  the Lord’s love is with those who fear him ,and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Teaching or Command of God:

Nehemiah 9:1-4

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God.

Nehemiah 9:5

And the Levites said: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.”

The Promise:

Isaiah 51:6

The heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

In this story from God's word, it is interesting to note that the Widow's Mite follows Jesus talking about Pharisees mistreating widows by robbing them of their houses.

What you don't find is this: The Widow using poor (even ungodly) human treatment as an excuse to not trust God himself.

In the midst of having almost nothing -- possibly because she's been mistreated -- she still trusts God for her needs and chooses not to hold onto the one small thing that might help her when "no one else is".

God may not provide for us in the most well known way, but he will always provide

Prayer Prompt:

[Insert your own prayer from your heart about this message...]

Pslam 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

We’re here to be worshippers first and workers only second. We take a convert and immediately make a worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant that a convert should learn to be a worshipper, and after that he can learn to be a worker... The work done by a worshipper will have eternity in it.

A.W. Tozer

Prayer for Worship:

Father God, continue to let your light shine into my heart that I might experience the knowledge of you in face and person of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Just as you originally created by your words “let there be light”, speak into my life continually with your word, creating and sustaining faith and continue to bring light any residual parts of my heart yet to be given over to you totally.

I want to shine for you; in Jesus name,

Amen.

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I am providing these comments about the website and devotion to increase your greater glory.

Amen.

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