SHINE THE LIGHT
Memorise:
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. .. Matthew 5:15
Read:
Matthew 18:23-35
Message
Every true child of God is a shining light. You are the light of the world, and Matthew 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Light has one clear duty: shining. This means that anything that stops light from shining is its enemy. As a child of God, anything that stops you from shining is your enemy, and you must deal with it.
Anything that allows darkness to gain the upper hand over light in a believer's life is an enemy. In today's memory verse, Jesus identified an object that can keep our light from shining and allow darkness to rule over light-.a bushel. A bushel' is typically a wooden bucket that was used for measuring dry goods such as peas or grains in the past. If someone lights a lamp in a dark room and puts it under a bushel, it will be impossible to tell that there is light anywhere in that room.
One of the most dangerous bushels that has hidden the light of many believers is unforgiveness. The dangerous thing about unforgiveness is that it comes as just one bushel, but it multiplies itself into many other bushels that cover a believer's light and keep it from shining. Unforgiveness always comes with bitterness, grudges, anger, and resentment. When someone offends you and you decide not to forgive the person, before long, you will find yourself resenting the person and refusing to speak amicably with him or her. Unforgiveness also hinders prayers from getting answered.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. ...Mark 11:25-26
Beloved, don't toy with unforgiveness; it hides a person's light and plunges the unforgiving person into darkness. When Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant in today's Bible reading, He revealed the end of those who do not forgive -they are handed over to tormentors.
Have you been hiding your light under the bushel of unforgiveness? It is time to kick it away and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). I pray that God will be glorified through your words and actions, in Jesus' name.
Bible In One Year:
Luke 16-18
Hymn:
I Want To Be Like Jesus
Key Point:
Unforgiveness is dangerous; don't let it dim your light.
I want to be like Jesus