The Light

After trusting Jesus as our Lord and Savior by faith (Rom 5:1), our body became “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Cor 6:19). We are now “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17). Therefore, we have no right to use our bodies for our own pleasure (Rom 14:8). “God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts!” That is why our Lord Jesus commanded all believers to be “the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Our faith in Him came “by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).

And “the entrance” (Ps 119:130), of His word gave us that light “to shine out of darkness!” However, “this treasure in earthen vessels” (v. 7), that is our mortal flesh (Eph 6:12), must be a living testimony so that “Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (v. 10), for others to see. Otherwise, the light that is in us will just be hidden “under a bushel” (Lk 11:33). Paul underwent all kinds of troubles and persecution (v. 8), so that the life of Jesus can be made manifest in him. In other words, the vessel has to be broken in order for the light to shine through him! When Gideon and his army of 300 fought the Midianites, they broke the “empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers” (Jdg 7:16), so that the lamps would shine forth.

And when the lamps began to shine, the Midianites scattered in fear and killed each other in their confusion (Jdg 7:22)! Before Jesus was crucified, a woman by the name of Mary broke “an alabaster box of ointment” (Mk 14:3), and poured it on His head. When the vessel was broken, the “house was filled with the odour of the ointment” (Jn 12:3). Whenever we share the gospel (1 Cor 15:4), may they see less of us and more about Jesus! God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera