THE WORD OF GOD LIGHTS OUR PATH AND DIRECTS OUR WAY

Proclamation:

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This is the fourteenth part, Nun, of this twenty-two part psalm.  Here David states that The Word of God is a light which directs him in the choice of the right way.  His son, Solomon, says the same thing and uses the same analogy. (Proverbs 6:23)  David had made his choice and he reaffirmed it. (Psalm 119:106)  He was glad that he did and he was committed to follow God’s law as long as he was alive. (Psalm 119:111-112)

Application:

The Word of God provides guidance for all aspects of our life, our work, our family, our fellowship, our direction, our behavior, and our conversation.  It is a light for us in a dark world.  It can show us the path which is the right way to go when we have choices to make.  It can strengthen and encourage us when the journey is difficult.  We just have to make up our mind to follow it.  Unfortunately, some people will prefer to stay in the darkness rather than walk His way in the light. (John 3:19)

Let The Light Of Christ Within You Shine

"You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."   Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

These are the words of Jesus, recorded by the Apostle Matthew, as He continued to teach His disciples, and the surrounding crowd, about the characteristics of believers.  After He had completed the beatitudes, He told them that they were to be lights of goodness in a dark sinful world, and they were to live their lives in a manner which would give glory to God, so that the people would see and praise God.

Jesus said that He was The Light of the world. (John 8:12)  He also said that as long as He was in the world He would be The Light of the world. (John 9:5)  Jesus also said that He abides within those who believe in Him. (John 6:56 and John 15:5)  Therefore, as believers, we have The Spirit of Christ within us, and we are to let that light shine for the world to see and praise God.  We are to speak and behave in such a way that the world will see Christ in us.  We are not to be ashamed of The Light, and try to hide it.  We are to display The Light of Christ in all that we do.  We are to give The Light to, and share The Light with others.  We are not to do this to attract attention to ourselves.  We are to direct people to Christ, and tell them about Him, so that others may be saved, and so that God is glorified.  If we tell them, The Lord God will convict, convince, and convert them, and add them to The Church as He deems necessary. (Acts 2:47)

Be Careful What You Look At

"The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."  Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)

As part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that ones eyes are the lamp and light to the body.  If ones eyes are good and look at good, then the whole body is filled with light.  However, if the eyes are bad and look at that which is bad, then the whole body is full of darkness.

Physically, the eyes allow light to enter the body if they are functioning properly.  If they do not function properly and do not allow light to enter, then we live in darkness.  Spiritually, that which we look at and see enters our mind through our eyes.  If what we see is good, then good thoughts are produced.  However, if what we see is bad, evil, or sinful, then that is what we think about.  Philosophically, our eyes are the windows to our soul and we are what we think. (Proverbs 23:7)  So, be careful what you look at, look at good things, read The Good Book (the Bible), think good thoughts, and do good.

Only God Can Change A Life

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against The Lord's disciples.  He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'  'Who are you, Lord?'  Saul asked.  'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,'  He replied ... The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.  So they led him by the hand into Damascus.  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.  In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision ... Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul ... Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength ... At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is The Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?' "  Acts 9:1-22 (NIV)
  Luke, the physician and travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, here records the conversion of Saul, which was Paul's given name.  Paul went from prosecutor to preacher after his encounter with The Lord on the road to Damascus.   This Bible story should teach us several things.  One, only God can truly change someone's life and heart.  Two, those people who used to run with us will notice the change in us, but they will not understand it, and they will not be changed.  Three, God must change us before He can use us, and we must go through something as part of it.  Four, we don't know how God plans to use someone so don't judge them by their past.  Five, it does not matter what kind of sinner we were beforehand, God can turn our life around and use us to be a blessing to others.  Jesus said that Saul was praying (verse 11), and maybe that is what we should do so that God will us us as He sees fit to do His will.

Don't Hate Your Borther

"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." 1 John 9-11

Jesus said "... I am the light of the world ..." John 8:12 and John 9:5. To be in the light is to be in Jesus and He in you. Being in darkness is to be lost in a sinful state without Jesus.

We cannot claim to be in Jesus and have hate in our heart for our fellow man. Christians should not have hate in their heart for anyone.

When we pray, we should also pray for "... a clean heart ... and ... a right spirit ..." Psalms 51:10

There is a currently popular phrase that says, "Don't be a hater" and another one that says, Don't hate the player, hate the game." Well to paraphrase that saying, "Don't hate the person, hate the sin."

We may not like what someone has said or done, but we should not hate them because of it. As Christians, His light should be in us and we should let it shine so that the world can see it.