Uncovered Light

2/6/2021

Matthew 5:14-15 "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."

I realize that I said I would concentrate on the book of James this month, but I also leave room for where the Spirit leads me. Today I will divert again from my favorite book. 

What is on my heart this evening is having conviction of faith. I am searching my soul and looking into my past to take an inventory of how I have done with this throughout my journey with Jesus. My road has been a winding one for sure, and I have not always been bold in my faith or convictions. In my youth, I was too swayed by what others would think or how they would react if I were to be recklessly abandoned to Jesus. Oh, how many years I have wasted letting the judgments of others affect my total submission to Jesus and His call on my life. I was very bold and open with fellow believers, but there was no personal risk involved in that kind of spiritual openness. I was only intrepid with safely with primarily like-minded people. In other situations I stayed mostly silent, and hoped my actions would let others know of my faith. Alas, being a good person and trying to do good is not only equated with followers of Christ. How would people know about the place Jesus had in my life if I did not share it with them? I never hid the fact that I was a Christian from anyone, but that is all I would do. The Great Commission was meant for apologists, missionaries, ministers, and even people who could quote the Bible, but it was not meant for me. I hid my light under a basket for too long. I was self-focused and self-protective. 

Ten years ago, God brought me to the end of myself and I submitted to His rightful place in my life. After a lifetime of belief, He finally became number one in my life above all else. I was a stubborn child and needed to learn the true order of things, but during that time of turmoil He never left me. Any time I did not feel His presence, it is because my focus, my very spirit, was imbalanced. He showed me the way not back to myself, but to who I could truly be in Him. He showed me that the Great Commission was not just for some believers, but for ALL believers. He brought me out of an intense focus on myself and showed me how to be recklessly abandoned to Him. His light of mercy and grace inside of me would no longer be hidden by fear or self-doubt. He was calling me to love others louder, and share the truth of the Gospel boldly. I finally understood that it was not about me being able to do so, it was about Him opening doors of opportunity and being able because of His strength and guidance. Even though I fight fear in other areas of my life, I no longer fear sharing the truth of saving grace though Christ with others. This humbles me to my core, and I truly understand that I am mightily blessed by the mercy grace, and love of my Savior.