“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” (Luke 11:33)

If a lamp is lit it is obvious that it is lit to light up an area. Especially in Bible times a person would not burn a lamp and waste oil if there was not a purpose. Light is for pushing aside the darkness and revealing. Jesus reveals that He is the Light who has come to push aside the darkness of sin and death and reveal the life that God has to offer humankind. Jesus never hid the purpose for which He came. He never dimmed His light to appease the world. Jesus was faithful in obedience to the plan of God to shine love on the world.

Jesus has passed the torch of His light to us to shine on the world. Our torch is the Cross. We lift it high to reveal to the world the love of God. The Cross reveals sin and death and the devil. The Cross shines into the darkness of the world like nothing else. Why does the world hate the Christian? It hates the Cross. It hates the light of God on its darkness. And so, we shine in obedience to His sacrifice for us. We shine revealing the darkness for what it is even if it brings us persecution, because there is nothing like the Light of God.

Heavenly Father, help us shine like Your Son in the darkness of this world. Give us boldness to be true to Your love of humankind. Empower us to speak the words and do the works that reveal Your love through Your Son, Jesus, our Savior and Lord. In His name. Amen.

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By Pastor Robert Forsberg

Pastor Robert Forsberg is retired from Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Fairborn.