Are you the light on the hill
I start today with a question for the reader. You decide what your answer is.
Are you the light of the world?
Matthew 5:14 tells us “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Philippians 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
I am often presented with people that are challenged in their life. They will say things like “You don’t know what I am going through. It is easy for you, you don’t have the problems I have.” Another one is “It is easy to have faith when you don’t have any trials.” Last and certainly my most favorite one “Don’t talk to me about God, don’t tell me I need to be saved, I need some answers now!”
They will search the internet. They will read manuals and books that have nothing to do with God or building faith. Often they will spend more time in fear and focus on the issue than they will focus on the solution and promise God has for them in His word. In other words they will spend more time walking in the darkness and embracing the problem. When I look at light and dark I see God is light and satan is darkness.
In the light I speak with the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. I take the comfort and counsel of the Holy Spirit and I can apply them to the situation. In the darkness I see sickness and fear. In the light I see the promise of healing and peace. In the darkness I will attack those that walk in their faith. In the light I will embrace them and follow their lead.
It all gets down to this simple thought for me. Who do I want to give myself to? Do I want to buy in completely to God’s word and his promises? Or do I give the power over to the enemy who comes to kill, steal and destroy? The answer hasn’t always been easy to find, in every tribulation I have faced. Follow the peace, walk in the light. It is always easier to walk any trial out with God than without him.
Life is not without challenges. Mine is no exception. This month has been full or trials, many from those closest to me. Often those in distress forget how much empathy (what they feel, I feel deep in my spirit) I go thru with each situation presented to me. In ministry these trials come daily and sometimes frequently multiple times in a day. They have no idea because when they come to us it is all about them, and not about me. How do I cope? The same way I tell them when they struggle. I relay on God and his word.
John 16:33 (AMP) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
If I need healing then the word tells me that by his stripes I am healed. Those stripes where more than physical manifestations, they hold much deeper spiritual meaning, but how can I accept the healing if I have not accepted the healer himself? I can surrender or I can fight and run from it. I can listen to God or I can take direction from the prince of fear and hate. Jesus said to us “no one comes to the father except through me.” I have to choose to give my heart, mind, body and soul to that promise of redemption.
The enemy will always challenge that truth. The enemy doesn’t want me redeemed and receiving of God’s grace. The enemy will always question any attempt to take us to that place, especially in times of real difficulty. The enemy will be the first to plant the thought of “Why is God doing this to me?” The whole time laughing because the enemy knows where disease comes from.
Light or darkness? Your choice, your free will, time to decide, time to walk in the light of God’s promises to you or in the curse of the darkness. Me I choose and stand on the promise of Jesus Christ! For all that it stands for and for all that it does in my daily struggles. There lays the solution. We were never promised that there would not be challenges. We are in a battle with an enemy. We were however, told to be of good cheer, because Jesus had overcome the world.
Take a moment. Have you really given your life over to God through Jesus. Do you tell your friends that they need to give their life to him, or is that too preachy for you. Remember, everything we do or say is seen. Jesus knows if you know him or you don’t, or is it just head knowledge destroyed when the first challenge overwhelms your feelings. It is time to get out of the pews and stand on the hill and be the light. If you don’t know if a friend or loved one is saved, it is time to find out. It is time to do something with it. Tomorrow is a blessing and not a promise. Life with Him is better than life without him. Leave the fear to the enemy and walk in the power that has been given to you through Christ.
In all of this, walk in the fruits of the spirit. No bible thumping them over the head. Remember to remind them it is their choice. It is their walk. If you are in leadership you should know if they are saved. Often it will put you in situations that will challenge your courage and perhaps your own faith. If you find out that they aren’t have the courage to ask them to consider it and speak of your own walk. It is all you can do. God has already knocked on that door many times in their life. When is all said and done, all you can do is pray. Release them and walk it out in faith.
