READ: Mark 4:21 NLT
Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.”
After leaving University I spent two years working in South India. I lived in a large Victorian mission house with an Indian Christian family. The house had mains electricity but every day the power would go off for a few hours and so we depended on candles. It grew dark around 6pm throughout the year and so there were many hours when we would be reading, eating or chatting to candlelight. What I love about candles is their incredible power to expel the darkness, small as they may be, and India helped me to acquire a much deeper appreciation of them.
The idea of lighting a lamp and putting it under a basket or a bed is simply absurd. No one in their right mind would do that. The point that Jesus is making is clear. God has given us light and our responsibility is to pass it on to others and so the idea of keeping it to ourselves is ridiculous. And yet, truth to tell, that is precisely what the church has often done: all that people see in the church are ancient buildings, tradition, old music, squabbles and abuse. How crazy and how unutterably sad.
Our task is pass on God’s light to the world. Light isn’t noisy. It quietly gets on with its work and brings illumination and life to all who are touched by it. As we go around each day we may not have the opportunity to say a word about Jesus. But we can still shine. Through our thoughtfulness, generosity, patience, love, care and compassion we give people an insight into what God is like. Like all candles we will flicker at times, but the light will have its effect if we are continually opening our lives to the light of Christ. The one thing we must never do is to hide it.
QUESTION: Where will you be able to shine for Christ today?
PRAYER: Thank you Lord that you are my light and my salvation. I praise you for the way in which your light blesses my life and enables me to bring hope to others. Amen.

Released on 12 Oct 2020