September 20, 2024 TAKE CARE
Luke 8:16-18 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lamp stand, in order for those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall shall not be known and come to light. Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken taken away from him.”
For sure, there is one good point in this passage that should serve as a permanent guiding principle that we live by 24/7. And that is knowing that nothing is hidden and knowing that all will come to light. Our thoughts, our motives, and our actions will all be exposed by the light. It is a sobering reality, but it is foolish to think that the things we do or our thoughts will remain a secret forever. I know that this may come across in such a way that makes us fearful; but that is not the intent. Living with this awareness is actually a safety net for us. Let’s be honest; we have all been guilty of wrong thoughts, wrong motives and wrong actions. But, as we grow in the faith and in our relationship with the Lord, we become more pure in thoughts, motives and deeds. This is somewhat a paradox; God forgives and restores, but it is also true that everything will be brought to the light; it may be brought to light to us personally, or it may be brought to light in a public way. Here is the positive aspect of this; it’s true that all things will come to light, but how we confess our wrongs and how we turn from it will also come to the light. We have all sinned, but God has made a way for us to be forgiven and made whole and made pure. We can now live in a way that does not bring shame and regret; we can live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. God does not bring things to the light to condemn us; He brings things to the light that we might be healed from our wrongs and be made whole. God is truth, He is holy, He is righteous and He is pure; He has no part with sin. He calls us to be holy as He is holy-AND we can live holy lives; does not mean we are sinless, but it means we are quick to turn from sin and continue walking with Him. I do not fully understand the last verse above, but I know that as we walk in the light, as we walk in His ways, we receive more and more from Him; and when we do not walk in His ways, we lose out on what He has for us. The major word for us is to ‘take care how we listen.’ We desperately need to hear what God speaks through His word and through His Spirit; if we hear and embrace His words we are blessed; if we do not hear and embrace what He says, we miss the blessing He has for us.
Matthew 11:15 “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Blessings, Buddy
Luke 8:16-18 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lamp stand, in order for those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall shall not be known and come to light. Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken taken away from him.”
For sure, there is one good point in this passage that should serve as a permanent guiding principle that we live by 24/7. And that is knowing that nothing is hidden and knowing that all will come to light. Our thoughts, our motives, and our actions will all be exposed by the light. It is a sobering reality, but it is foolish to think that the things we do or our thoughts will remain a secret forever. I know that this may come across in such a way that makes us fearful; but that is not the intent. Living with this awareness is actually a safety net for us. Let’s be honest; we have all been guilty of wrong thoughts, wrong motives and wrong actions. But, as we grow in the faith and in our relationship with the Lord, we become more pure in thoughts, motives and deeds. This is somewhat a paradox; God forgives and restores, but it is also true that everything will be brought to the light; it may be brought to light to us personally, or it may be brought to light in a public way. Here is the positive aspect of this; it’s true that all things will come to light, but how we confess our wrongs and how we turn from it will also come to the light. We have all sinned, but God has made a way for us to be forgiven and made whole and made pure. We can now live in a way that does not bring shame and regret; we can live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. God does not bring things to the light to condemn us; He brings things to the light that we might be healed from our wrongs and be made whole. God is truth, He is holy, He is righteous and He is pure; He has no part with sin. He calls us to be holy as He is holy-AND we can live holy lives; does not mean we are sinless, but it means we are quick to turn from sin and continue walking with Him. I do not fully understand the last verse above, but I know that as we walk in the light, as we walk in His ways, we receive more and more from Him; and when we do not walk in His ways, we lose out on what He has for us. The major word for us is to ‘take care how we listen.’ We desperately need to hear what God speaks through His word and through His Spirit; if we hear and embrace His words we are blessed; if we do not hear and embrace what He says, we miss the blessing He has for us.
Matthew 11:15 “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Blessings, Buddy
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