²¹ And He was saying to them,“A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the  lamp stand? ²² For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Mark 4:21-23

      This verse takes me back to my first grade Sunday School class.  Maybe you remember singing a song called, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  The thrust of this song was to not let the wind, the devil, or a basket cover your light.  In other words, keep that light shining at all cost!  I can remember holding my little finger up, purposing not to let my light get snuffed out!  I was tough back in the first grade.  Hey, life was simple back in the those days. 

      We all want to be lights and this is a good thing.  Before we can be lights for the Lord, we must have something in our hearts to shine.  Let me draw a distinction between receiving a word from the Lord versus letting that word shine.  In our passage Jesus purposefully places this parable about being a light right after the parable of the sower.  The words or revelations we receive from the Lord should be finding good soil and growing to maturity in our heart.  Revelations are real-time spiritual insight and information about God, the Bible, others, and life in general.  We desperately need this type of information.  If we are obedient to God’s revelation, it changes everything about us. 

      When God’s word matures in us, then it can become light for others to observe.  Light then is how we project our words and revelations to others.  The first group of people who are going to see our light is our close family and friends.  Usually God’s first words to us are about how we are to interact and respond to those closest to us.  Why?  This immediate circle is the place where we will have our greatest impact.  As our circle spreads out, our light should impact school, work, and other friends.  Jesus states later, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works.”  Most of the time we do not have to be aggressive witnesses for this group to know we love the Lord.  We live is such a way that they see our light.  As someone once said, “Preach the Word and if needed use words.” 

      Unfortunately some never go through the maturity process to allow their words from the Lord to shine.  We want to be light!  Real light must originate from real revelation.  If we fail to allow this process to happen, we will only beam our own personal light.  Which light would you rather project…God’s light or your light? 

      I encourage you to stick with the process God has you in today.  Allow His word to flourish in your life.  Only then will your light be one that will truly reach your family and friends. 

Blessings,

Pastor