Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
What kind of lights are we? Jesus said that each believer’s purpose and objective is to be not just “a light” but “the light” of the world. We are that which illuminates the darkness in men’s hearts.
We are the visible tools the Holy Spirit uses to bring an awareness of God’s person, presence, power, love, mercy, and grace to a world stooped in depravity. He calls us “cities set on a hill” and identifies that the Light we Shine is always visible to others. We are not lamps that are lit and then hidden, but we are placed on the lampstands of life for everyone to view openly.
He calls us to “let our light shine before me in such a way that they see….and glorify your Father….” We are Lights, and that is not the discussion. What kind of Lights are we?
What is the message received by those observing our lives?
What do they see from the light that we shine?
Someone once said, “Our lives are the only Bible some people ever read, so what is the Gospel according to you?” I must include this truth in that statement and say, “If our lives are Light to the world, what do they see when our light touches them?” Does the light shining from our lives cause them to recognize God and glorify Him, or does it cause them to be repulsed by our claim of relationship with God?
I engage people from many different walks of life, and no matter what the discussion is, I seek to “speak the truth in love” and be a “light” of God’s love. I do that with everyone I talk to. We may disagree completely, but I want them to go away with a sense that I do not reject them as people. I want them to recognize Christ in me as I contend for the faith, truth, right, and principle.
Some cannot separate the two, and when there is disagreement, they reject both the message and the messenger. Yet, as a Christian, it is my duty and privilege to be a Light pointing to God.
Daniel 6:3 – “Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him…” NKJV
Daniel and his prophecies are incredibly important to the Kingdom of God and us today. I believe that we are living in what the Bible calls “The Last Days” and “Perilous Times.”
At the beginning of his sojourn in Babylon, Daniel determined to separate himself from the pagan customs and be fully dedicated and obedient to God. In so doing, God gave him and the other three, known as the “Three Hebrew Children,” identified by the Babylonian names, whereas Daniel is referred to in Scripture by his Hebrew name.
Then, we come to this chapter in the account. Darius, the King, was so impressed with Daniel that he considered putting him over the entire realm because an Excellent Spirit was in Daniel. The presence of the Spirit and Hand of God produced jealousy in the governors and satraps, and they sought to find something to bring Daniel down. However, they knew they would find nothing in his character or conduct that would fulfill that purpose, so they set out to trick the king and use Daniel’s faith and commitment to God to bring accusations against him.
You must remember that we are warned in Scripture that the devil is cunning and crafty. Too often, we dismiss him or diminish his ability to deceive, connive, and seduce people and manipulate them into the actions and activities that he desires in opposition to God and the purposes of God.
Daniel did not change his commitment to God and continued, even after a decree was issued that no prayer could be offered to anyone except Darius. That was used to bring him to the judgment of the “Lion’s Den,” even though the king did not want to render the judgment. God once again demonstrated His incredible faithfulness and power in closing the mouth of the lions and keeping Daniel safe.
God never fails, and if we have an “excellent spirit” in us and follow wholly the Lord and His commandments, we will find that faithful God in our corner when times of difficulty come. He may be in our corner as He was with Stephen in the New Testament when Paul was witness to his being stoned to death for his faith and testimony of Christ. Yet, even in his death, Stephen testified that he could see the angels of the Lord and knew that God was with him.
God will never fail us, and if we allow the “excellent spirit” of the Lord to manifest himself in our hearts, we will find that God gives us divine favor with those who are instrumental and key in advancing the kingdom. We will discover that those who oppose and conspire against us will be brought to destruction. So, whatever you do as you go through the rest of your days on this planet, seek the Lord that He put within you an “Excellent Spirit.”
Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
In the military, I learned that you never volunteered or should be very selective and informed about what you volunteered for. I had a team leader who had a nasty habit of volunteering me for various things, and I asked him about it on one occasion. He said, “Texas, it is because I know you can and will do the job. I trust you.”
On one hand, that was good to hear; on the other, it was, “Really, or do you just do it because you know that I won’t constantly complain?” I never knew which it was on most occasions, but it did not matter; there was a job to do, and most of the time, I knew I could do it and do it right, so I took it in stride.
When it comes to the things of the Lord, sometimes we are like Ahimahaz 2 Samuel 18; we want to run even though we do not have the message, the gifts, talents, call, or commission to do the job. The Lord may send a Cushi, and if we persist in asking to run, He might respond like Joab and finally say, “Run, then!”
Ahimaaz ran and outran Cushi, and when he got to King David, he had no message, and the king turned him aside. It should have embarrassed Ahimaaz because his zeal had overridden his wisdom. Sometimes, the task is yours, and other times, you are not the main character in the play.
Volunteering is good, but if the Lord does not choose to use you for that particular task, do not become discouraged or bitter; instead, say, “Lord, I know you know the best person for the job, and I trust you.” In time, God will use you for something He has purposed.
I appreciate zeal but also appreciate the Gifts of God that He has deposited in various people. If we truly function in God’s pattern, we will defer to the person with the “gifting” for the particular task and never become jealous, envious, or upset when someone else comes to the fore.
It is not our church. It is God’s church. It is not our ministry. It is God’s ministry. We are “Body Parts,” and the Blood of Jesus links all together. He is the head, and we are various parts of the same body.
If you are an eye and I am an ear, my function is not seeing; that is your job. My job is hearing, and if we work together, we will not only accomplish more but also avoid the pitfalls that come with our limited realm of authority and gifting, and we will function as a unit as God intended.
Volunteer, and if God says, “No, I need a different gift and calling for this task,” rejoice and lend your support to the person God has chosen to use. Later, when your gift is needed, they will support you. Remember, in all things, it is His Church! We are a building “fitly framed together” into a House for His purposes.
May God be with you as you go through your day, anointing and blessing you!
Jeremiah 1:4-5 – “4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
This is not meant to be political but biblical. I could care less about the politics of this discussion but care a great deal about what God has to say about it and His view on the subject. We read in Psalm 139:16 – “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
I feel compelled to ask, “If God knew us before we were formed in the womb and called us to whatever ministry or vocation we were to be called to, and if God saw our unformed substance and wrote in His book the days that were ordained for us when there were no days and not existence on earth, then When Does Life Begin?”
As I read these and numerous other passages in the Bible, I cannot help but conclude that life begins in God’s heart and creative mind. Therefore, I would conclude that as far as the fetus (baby) is concerned, it begins at conception. You do not have to hold that view, but I do, and I am not afraid to advance that thought. I do not base it upon my own personal philosophy but on what I believe to be the Word of God.
Regardless of what you think on this matter and where you stand politically, you should place a high premium on human life as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If God knew us before we were formed or conceived and wrote the number of our days in His book, how can we devalue any human life?
If we cannot rise into the heavens or descend into the heart of the earth and escape God, how can we not know that He sees and records all that transpires on this planet?
What we do and allow in this life will one day come before us as we stand before Him, and we will give account. I tremble at that thought because I want to be sure I take God’s stance on every issue. I have changed my views, theology, and philosophy more than once. I will experience a continual metamorphosis as I traverse this terrestrial ball and walk the terra firma we call Earth.
I will defend the ‘unborn’ with every breath I have and will work to ensure that they are protected from senseless and needless butchery at the hands of amoral people. It is not a matter of women’s reproductive rights. It is about life and God’s view of it.
If we are creatures created in the “image” and “likeness” of God, how dare we treat the life of anyone and especially that of the unborn, as something that is of so little value that we can snuff it out based on ‘gender,’ ‘convenience,’ or even ‘malformations?”
I plead with everyone to prayerfully consider what God says about life before you allow anyone, including me, to shape your opinion. Please do not take what I say as the final word; study and examine the record for yourselves. God will help you form a conviction, not just an opinion.
Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.”
The thought or image of angels surrounding God’s people is a theme that is repeated numerous times in Scripture. Some find it difficult to believe, but I find it comforting and encouraging as I go through life. It does not give me a false sense of worth or a license to walk with a prideful attitude or venture into arenas that the Spirit of God has not directed.
On the other hand, it encourages me when the Spirit of God directs my heart to attempt something or enter the spiritual battles of life. I go knowing that the angels of the Lord are encamped about me, that God is watching over my life, and that God will send forth the heavenly hosts to defend, protect, and deliver me at whatever time.
I feel like the three Hebrew children facing the fiery furnace when they declared, “God is able to deliver us, and if not, then we will just go home early.” That is how I view the spiritual battles of life, knowing that I fear God [with reverential awe]and that His angels are encamped around me to rescue me.
If you know that the All-Powerful God is available and waiting to come to your rescue, you develop a much bolder sense of confidence than if you are unsure. That is why I am so determined every day to face the day with the assurance that I am heading down the path God has chosen for that day.
It is in my confidence that He has “ordered my steps” that I discover a boldness to proceed. I am not saying throw all caution to the wind but exhibit the type of confidence that David had when he faced Goliath. He told the emissary of hell, “You come against me with a sword and a shield, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord.” Give me the name of the Lord anytime over man’s weapons, and I will feel quite confident that I will be the victor.
Therefore, as you go through this day, do not go in your power or might but in the Name of the Lord. You will discover that you are going not only in confidence but also in faith. I believe that God orders our paths, and as we follow His directions, we will achieve victory after victory. Never allow man to intimidate you. Never allow the powers of darkness to intimidate you. Remember that God is greater than all our problems and fears.
Psalm 51:10-13 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.”
If anyone wonders why God would call David a man after His own heart, reading a Psalm such as this should explain it. David had a penetrating desire for God, and his continual expression and demonstration of a willingness and disposition to “Seek God” demonstrates why God would say this of David. He was passionate about God, and we find a guide for daily living as we consider what he said.
Create in me a CLEAN HEART.
That is an expression of “total surrender” to God; otherwise, the Holy Spirit cannot control the heart. As it is “cleansed,” we are translated from darkness into light, and in the condition and position of “light,” we are separated from wickedness and uncleanness. David was desiring to LIVE in God’s presence.
Renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT in me.
David wanted his heart clean and his attitude and spirit right and steadfast. He did not want to be easily swayed by the winds of adversity but wanted to be “rock solid” in God and through God. That meant allowing God to have control of his life.
Do not CAST ME AWAY from Your Presence.
Again, this expressed David’s desire to be “in the presence” of God all the time, where sin would be exposed and dealt with. Uncleanness would be brought to light and washed away. David continued to express his desire for God to “live in” and “through” him daily.
And do not TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from me.
David was expressing his recognition of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, a work and ministry we must have to live this Christian life successfully. Without the ministry of the Spirit of God, we would and will not be able to walk the walk.
Restore to me THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION.
Salvation is “Joy,” David recognized that without the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength, he would succumb to the temptations of life, “cast away” his confidence, and stumble.He longed for the “Good News” of God.
Sustain me with A WILLING SPIRIT.
Oh, that we would have “willing spirits” and quickly respond to the Holy Spirit’s nudging whenever the Lord prompts or calls.
David then said, Lord, I will “teach” transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you. As a result of God coming in and setting up residence in our lives, we “Spread the Good News.” It is not that maybe we will. It is a natural by-product of Salvation.
If something is overflowing within you, you will let others know. It will not be a labor or a chore. It will be as natural as breathing to “answer for the reason of hope that is within.” If sharing what is in you is a chore, you might want to double-check what is within you.
I am not talking about being someone who walks the streets or knocks on doors passing out tracts. There is nothing wrong with that. I am talking about a natural and normal part of life: you share your faith as the opportunity and situation present itself. You are “not ashamed of the Gospel” and rejoice in what God has done in you. It is natural in the life of a person who is “born-again.”
Luke 12:32-34 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” NKJV
If you read these three verses casually, you will undoubtedly be perplexed. The Lord Jesus addresses several issues, and each is important.
He addresses our State of Mind.
“Do not fear, little flock…” That is both a command and an encouragement. It is a specific directive of something that we are to do and a beautiful encouragement because he adds to it ‘little flock,’ indicating not necessarily the size of the flock but his view toward us as a shepherd to his lambs. He diligently watches over the ‘little flock’ and gives nurture and protection to the lambs. God does that for us, and thus He says, “Do not fear….”
He addresses the Father’s Heart.
“For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” Two things stand out in this passage. The desire of the Father for us and the extent of His desire! It is his Good Pleasure or His willingness to care for us. His Kingdom is His reign and rule, and He wants to give us ‘rulership’ and ‘dominion’ in the earth. That is something that the devil stole from us, and Adam abdicated that position in the fall, and now Jesus says – “The Father wants to restore you to that position and condition.”
He addresses our Lives.
“Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.” He specifically and purposefully tells us that ‘mammon’ is not to be and cannot be our source or focus.
Instead, by receiving the Kingdom from the Father in faith, not fear, we move from the natural to the spiritual, from the temporal to the eternal. We enter a dimension that mortal flesh outside of Christ cannot know. In so doing, we are storing up treasures in heaven, and no thief can steal, no moth can eat holes in, and no devil can disrupt. It is secure and powerful.
Then He brings it home.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I have told people for years that if I can discover what is important to you and valuable to you, I can know the condition of your heart. Whatever is most important is where your heart is and identifies the condition of your soul.
It never fails. I have seen people driven to ‘make money ’ and‘amass fortunes,’ and their hearts were easily distracted from the things of the Kingdom of God. I have seen others who wanted to provide for their families, but the most important thing to them was God and His Kingdom, and they were locked in on pursuing the Kingdom.
I can say about the latter, as David did in Psalm 37:25-26 – “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. 6 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.” NKJV
God never fails to take care of His children. We are the sheep of His pasture, and no shepherd neglects His sheep. So, as you go through this day and this week, know that you have nothing to fear and that the Father desires that you receive the Kingdom and reign in Christ!
1 Timothy 5:17-19 – “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and ” The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
If you consider the context of this passage, you will realize that it is not talking about “words of praise” for the pastor or elder of the congregation. It is talking about Pay! That is right, I said it: Pay!I am not pastoring a congregation, so I can say this without any concern that anyone would think I am trying to gain something for myself; I am not.
However, I would have no fear of saying it if I were a lead pastor in a church because it is truth, and I do not fear truth. That being said, I would refuse to allow money to be the deciding factor in anything I did spiritually, and I have proven that in the past, as others can testify.
Paul taught Timothy to instruct churches, ministers, or leaders in the proper execution of their duties and responsibilities. He was setting in order churches throughout the region, and this instruction was valuable.
Paul told his son in the faith that an elder who “rules well,” those committed to and working hard at rightly dividing the word of truth ‘teaching and preaching.’ The phrase “rules well” does not mean to lord it over people but to care for the flock with the heart of a true shepherd.
The ministry is not designed to be a hierarchy but a serving position. The particular passage that Paul quotes is from Deuteronomy 25:4, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” That is an emphatic emphasis that by God’s direction, the ox that is laboring should also be able to eat the fruit or grain upon which he is laboring.
He also referenced the Lord Jesus’ statement in Luke 10:7, “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages.” There is no question that Paul was teaching that the pastor who performs his duties well is worthy of Double Pay!
Before you lose your religion, I am not telling you that this is something that the man of God should demand. Rather it is something the congregation should desire for him. Most men of God would refuse to take that amount, but if they choose to accept it, there would be nothing wrong with it.
I have a problem when a man of the cloth makes Mammon (money) his objective rather than the Gospel. I have always believed that God would take care of my needs. I believe that I can take my petition to Him. I believe He will move on whatever hearts need to be moved upon to provide for me and my family, supernaturally raining it down out of heaven if necessary.
I remember one occasion when I had a $500 need. I had a debt due in a few days; it was $500, and I had $55.00 in the bank. I was praying about the need and heard the whisper in my spirit saying, “Pay tithes on your need.” I thought that I must be hallucinating because surely God would not be telling me to do something so outlandish. However, the more I prayed, the more convinced I was that the Holy Spirit was directing my heart.
On Wednesday evening, I wrote a check for $50.00 and put it in the offering, rejoicing! I knew that there would be no more money until Sunday, when I got paid again. We never knew what that would be, but it had never been $500.00 and would not likely be that on that Sunday.
I had to go into town the following day and had an individual walk up to me on the street, hand me something, and say, “God spoke to my heart to give you this,” then they turned and walked away. I resisted looking at it immediately and waited until I had settled in my car. Then I opened the check, and it was for $550.00. God had supplied my needs and given me back my $50.00 additionally.
Church leaders have chastised me for not letting them know my actual needs. They would, at times, with tears in their eyes, tell me that they wanted to take care of my family and needs. I have had churches that took care of us royally, and I have been in situations when I was told that I would toe the line (which I could never do) or they would do to me what they had done to others and “starve me out.”
My response then and now was, “God is my source, and He will take care of me.” I never let money determine what I preached or how I treated people. That being said, I believe churches that honor their pastors receive special blessings from God, and those that do not find leanness in their souls.
If you are an “ox muzzler’ stop and open your heart as God directs you to open your pocketbook. Greedy preachers and stingy congregations are not God’s desire! He wants preachers with servant’s hearts and churches with a spirit of generosity IN ALL THINGS! God loves a cheerful giver, and it is impossible to outgive God!
Psalm 23:4 – “…I fear no evil, for You are with me…”
Some people live their lives in a prison of fear and worry.
They fear the unknown as well as the known.
They fear what might happen as well as what does happen.
They expect the worst in everyone and everything and live a miserable life.
I have known some people that I genuinely believe that if they did not have something to worry about, they would worry about not worrying.
David makes a powerful statement in Psalm 23 and declares that he has no fear because God is with him. The presence of God banishes fear because God is love, and there is no fear in love.
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment.” NKJV
Psalm 27:1 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”
David lived without fear because he lived in the presence of God and trusted God.
As one reads the 91st Psalm, one quickly realizes how dependent upon and confident David was in God. I am convinced as Hebrews 2:15 declares that many all their lives live in fear of death and are thereby held in bondage, never knowing the true freedom to live the Abundant Life that God has offered all who believe.
It is impossible to live in fear and faith at the same time. Fear prevents rational thought and causes one to live in such a manner as to miss many or most of the wonderful opportunities of life that God has laid before us. If the devil can cause us to live in fear, he has nothing further to do to hinder our progress because we live in paralysis spiritually as well as emotionally.
Some are unable to grow and develop as God desires because they live paralyzed by fear. Jesus told us in Matthew 10:28 not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot harm the soul. Sadly, we fear man and the devil rather than placing our trust, complete trust, in God.
If we allow the 23rd and 91st Psalms to become cornerstones of our lives and place our complete trust and confidence in God, we will escape the torment of fear and its paralysis. We will see life through a new grid, and our world will become brighter and filled with hope and cause for rejoicing.
We will enter a new dimension of living, allowing us to fulfill our destiny and become all God has intended for us to be. Life will become fun and productive. It will become an adventure of never-ending excitement and joy. Our lives will become beacons that draw others like moths to a flame because hope rises, and love is displayed when fear is banished.
May God enable you to live free of fear all the days of your life. Blessings as you go through this day!
Matt 28:16-20 – “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 ” Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
It has often perplexed me as I read this particular passage. The eleven had walked with Jesus for over three years, seen the miracles, heard the teaching, and knew His promise and the prophecies of His Resurrection, yet “some were still doubtful.” Mark makes it a little stronger and says that Jesus rebuked them because they did not believe those who reported the resurrection.
That has caused me to wonder what people would do today if Jesus stood in the flesh or in person before them and declared His promises to them. Would they accept it as a true revelation of God and confirmation of His Word, or would they doubt it? I wish I could say that all would believe and receive the confirmation of the Word, but I have learned human nature well enough to know that would not be the case.
Let us move beyond that and to what He said in this passage. I want to approach this in the simplest terms possible.
Jesus declared, “All Authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth.” In two realms, He Was All Authoritative.
In that Authority and Power, He Commissioned Those disciples and us to“Go therefore and make disciples of All Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…”
He further promised that He Would Be Present in the process and be with them and us to the end of the age.
We have the Authority of Heaven to spread this message of Hope! We have the Power of God’s Authority backing us and the promise that He will be present to give oversight and assistance in the process. My question is: “What is keeping us from doing that?”
Years ago, I heard the story of an airman during World War II who was talking to the chaplain before a mission, and the chaplain briefly mentioned God and offered to give a generic prayer. The airman stopped him and said, “Chaplain, I don’t want you to pray because you don’t believe.” The chaplain was stunned, and the airman continued saying, “If I believed there was a God and hell, though England was covered with glass, I would crawl on my hands and knees to tell everyone to flee that place. You, sir, do not believe because you are not warning anyone.”
Sometimes, we must reexamine our actions and ask, “Do we believe?” Then ask, “How do people know we believe?” If we are the only Bible, some will ever read, “What is the Gospel according to our lives?’
Roy's Covenant Corner 