Repost from August 2017

 

When the darkness through the people around us tries to influence us and we become passive by keeping quiet to get along, don’t be afraid to speak up and challenge the darkness trying to suppress us. Remember,  JESUS LIVES WITHIN US AND HE IS THE ONLY LIGHT THEY WILL EVER SEE. AND, BECAUSE HE LIVES WITHIN US AND THROUGH US, HE WANTS TO BE THE LIGHT IN THEIR WORLD.

 

Here is a repost from a previous blog and a gentle reminder of who Jesus is within us and who we are in Him.

 

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In a dark, cold, and desolate place sat a little torch. The torch felt isolated, abandoned, and alone. One day a little spark strolled by and observed the little torch sulking in its agony. “Hi little torch, why are you so sad?” asked the little spark.  “Look around, I have no friends, no one to share life with, and I don’t even know my purpose in life. I just sit here in the darkness without joy or meaning,” whined the little torch. As the little torch continued in its woes, the little spark said, “Wait! I got an idea. How about we become friends? All you have to do is hold your lamp down, let me climb inside, and hide me close to you in your lamp so I won’t fall out. I will be your friend forever!” The little torch said, “You want to be my friend and we will be together forever?” asked the little torch. “Wow! That sounds too amazing to be true! Okay, here I am, I bow my head down to you little spark, jump in and I will hold you close to my heart every moment of the day,” said the little torch excitedly! So the little torch bowed down its head, the little spark and torch became as ONE. They loved and cared for each other deeply. One night, a strange thing happened. The little torch and little spark sat on a hill, but surrounding them were thousands of little torches burning brightly piercing through the darkness. What the other torches saw with the little torch and the little spark was not a tiny glow of light but a MAGNIFICENT AND GLORIOUS LIGHT shining from the hill, illuminating every little torch for miles and miles away. Their light drove out the darkness everywhere until night turned to day, and darkness fled away.

 

Because of one lost, helpless, and lonely little torch who opened its heart to a little spark, torches everywhere began to experience light and hope in their dark and dismal worlds. The little torch told the little spark, “Thanks to you, now I know who I am and why I was created; to bear your light in the world, so other little torches can find their light in you! Little spark, I am forever grateful to you,” exclaimed the little torch!

 

 

From this little story, I am reminded of a song I sang in my high school choir.

 

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
Then soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you experience it
You spread His love to everyone
You want to pass HIM on. 

 

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I’ve found.
You can come join in, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountaintops
I want the world to know
The joy of JOYS has come to me.
I want to pass HIM on.

Pass It On Kurt Kaiser -1969 EMI Christian Music Group

 

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John 1:4 (Amplified) – In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the Life was the Light of men.

 

John 8:12 (Amplified) – Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I AM THE LIGHT of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

 

John 12:46 (Amplified) – I have come as Light into the world so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.

 

 

Throughout John’s gospel, he shares the message of ‘The Light’ who came into the earth to give Light and Life to every little torch; a few people received Him and others didn’t. Jesus didn’t come as a flaming fire or a blazing torch to overwhelm humanity, but He came as a humble and meek little spark to give His Light to as many who would receive Him. He came as Light to give us an understanding of who we really are. He came to drive away the darkness within us that keeps us bound. He came to reveal who He is and the amazing Kingdom within us where we were created to live from and abide all the days of our lives. As His little torches in the earth, we have been given an awesome task, and so very simple, to shine… that’s it!

 

 

Matthew 5:14-16 (Amplified) – “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A City Set on a Hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

 

The mandate to shine is not a difficult one because we are just the torches bearing the ‘Light of the World.’ We are a CITY ON A HILL, CAN’T BE HIDDEN. It is His Light and Life the whole world is dying to see. The whole world is held captive in darkness unless the very Light and Life of Christ through us ignite their darkened worlds. We can’t afford to live frivolously, carnally, or fleshly, when the whole world around us is still under the tyranny of the evil one. Our Papa has called and chosen us to bring His Life and Truth to His creation. As we allow Him to penetrate through our darkened souls, then the whole world can truly see and experience His Light because they will SEE AND BEHOLD HIM, THE LORD… THE GIVER OF LIGHT!

 

 

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for coming into my dark heart and soul. It was lost, lonely, without purpose or direction. Because You live within me, continue to conquer, and shine in the darkness in every room of my soul, so that you can shine through me and other little torches can be ignited by your Light and Truth within me. AMEN

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Enjoy Christ, Enjoy Life!