“The night the lights went out in Georgia...”

The Lord said to his disciples

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Light is essential.  Let’s think about what what this light we have in us is.

“God is light”
“God is love”
By inference the love we shine is our light.  How do we let our light shine then?  By loving.
Ironically it is us religious people who don’t show this love!
“I know you (the pharisees) that you have not the love of God in you” (Jn.5)

The light can go out very easily.  After all the Lord said,”the love of many shall wax cold.”

How do we fan the flame?

 Right  fuel.  Fire needs a fuel.  The energy of the Holy Spirit alone kindles this flame of love.  For, “he makes his angels ministers flames of fire.”  This  oil of gladness is what the virgins  in Mt.25 did not want to give  away, lest their own  lights die. Conversely,  if we fuel  ourselves with a love of the world then the love dies. Arguing  and contention quench  the Spirit (Eph.4:29-30), putting the fire out.

Right  air.  Every hear somebody  say,  he is a breath of fresh air?  Hope is like that.  Hope is expressed in prayer.  Some would say  the atmosphere of prayer.  A strong wind however, can knock  out a flame as well.  St. Paul  calls false doctrine a wind (Eph.4).  If we have  mixed up beliefs our love is not based on knowledge, on truth, and so won't endure.

 Right burn rate.  If you  burn  something too quick it won’t be sustained. 


This little light of mine...