Keep Shining

Day 17 of 90 days Through the New Testament Daily reading Luke Chapters 7-9

Anyone else feel like this week has been the longest week ever. We've finally made it to Wednesday and im not quite sure how I even got here. And reading in Luke this week has caused a little dejavu because I keep thinking, wait haven't we read this before...Yes, yes we have...It's ok we're not completely loosing it this week. But once I got over the Brain fog I honed in on Luke Chapter 8 and the Parable of the Lamp. Anyone else feel the need to sing as they read it? " Hide it under a Bushel, No! I'm gonna let it shine" Growing up alot of the songs we learned as kids came directly from the Bible. We were raised singing scriptures and the truth was literally "Down in our hearts to stay" (That's a song too ) But I love the Parable of the lamp so much its probably one of my favorites because it reminds me that its not only ok to shine, that's what we were made to do. We were made to shine! The light inside of us is supposed to shine so bright that it leads people to Jesus. We were never meant to hideaway in fear and we were never meant to be quiet.Jesus goes on to say, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." (Luke 8:17) That verse shifts things. It's not just about letting your light shine , It’s also about allowing Gods light to shine in you. His light reveals truth. It exposes what's been hidden, the things we try to bury deep down, the motives we don't want to face, the sin or pain we thought we could keep in the dark. But His light doesn't expose us to shame us , it exposes us to heal us. When we let His truth shine in every corner of our hearts, freedom follows. And then Jesus finishes the parable with this:"Pay attention to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them." (Luke 8:18) That's a strong reminder that it's not enough to just hear Gods Word we have to listen with the intention to obey. The more we lean in and live out what He says, the more revelation and understanding He gives us. But if we tune Him out or let the noise of life drown Him out, we risk losing the very light that guides us. So this week, as tired as you might be, keep shining but also keep listening. Don't just carry the light... Walk in it. Let Gods Word not only illuminate the world around you, but also the hidden places within you.

Because when His light shines through you and in you that's when transformation really happens.

Keep shining. Keep listening. Keep growing.

Love Pastor Mandy