The Accuser Be the Light

The Accuser

Be the Light

It is the curse of future generations

For good people to be silent

It is not wise to shine a light in the eyes

Of another and pick a fight

But it is also not wise to live in darkness

When you have the light this world needs

As a young boy I knew I was different.

My relationship with Jesus made me different.

I realized I saw life differently than the

kids at school and in the neighborhood.

   Although I got picked on and bullied

I tried to live a passive life.

Many of us want Jesus and also want a passive life.

We don’t want to get involved

because getting involved has a cost.

Shortly after Jesus says…

 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you

and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

In the Sermon on the Mount He says…

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Being a light is an interesting thing.

I remember as a boy my parents talking about air raids.

At night if you heard the air raid sirens you turned off the lights.

But Jesus says in an environment of persecution we

are to be like a city shining on a hill that cannot be hid.

 

I have a flashlight in my desk drawer and

my grandson Emmett loves the flashlight.

We use it to point out things in my office.

We use it for learning and playing games.

 I shine the light on something and ask him what it is

or I will ask him to find an item with the flashlight.

The flashlight has been a great thing

for the both of us for about 2 years.

But when he shines the flashlight in my

eyes I am blinded and don’t like it.

Light in the eyes is not a good thing.

We need to understand we are not to be passive

we must live our lives in a visible way.

When people see our lives in every situation

and see the difference Christ makes for us

they get the opportunity to see Christ in action.

There are times when our light will expose dangers.

Not that our light is to be pointed into

someone’s eyes but to be pointed on the

danger and evil that can damage a life.

 We must learn not to be passive, living a

life without a shining and guiding light.

  

We must also learn how to be the light

without shining it in the eyes of others.

 

All of us wish we could live the dream of “Happily Ever After”.

But the reality is we live in a fallen rebellious world.

Satan has blinded the eyes and darkness covers the earth.

The glory of heaven shines with light

and truth but dark clouds keep many

from experiencing heaven on earth.

The accuser does not want your light to shine.

Your light is the testimony that

reveals God’s truth and glory.

One of the tactics and strategies

of the accuser is to intimidate.

Another is to get you and I to be more

concerned about our own comforts.

Letting your light shine will cost you your comforts.

Many of our troubles come from good

people not being willing to take a stand.

Not willing to take the time, finances,

and resources to make a difference.

 

It is the curse of future generations

for good people to be silent.

It is not wise to shine a light in

the eyes of another and pick a fight.

But it is also not wise to live in darkness

when you have the Light this world needs.

So let your light shine, don’t be ashamed,

don’t be intimidated and don’t let your

fear of giving up your comforts get in the

way of being that light the world needs.

Remember Jesus says we are to be like a city on a hill.

Don’t live your life alone join other believers it is

so much easier to shine when you shine with others.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 5:11-16 NIV

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 "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 by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.