Grace and wisdom, part II
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
T he only one who can dim the light inside of me is myself. It is the same for you. It is easy to dim the light in our lives through our thoughts, actions, our experiences, and the inuence from others we allow into our lives. To strengthen and make the light brighter there are Scriptures which brings comfort, guidance, correction, wisdom and keeps the light shining.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what does a man pro_t if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:24-25).
This leads me to think about the interpretation by Jim Elliott a missionary who was killed by Auca Indians in Ecuador in 1956, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Part of the battle Christians face is our culture always denigrating and ridiculing the Christian faith. However, in the face of the blithering and brutal attacks from our culture we are to let our light shine and accomplish the good works God has created for us to accomplish.
We read, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 11:4-7).
There is never a need to be jealous of others because of what they accomplish or have, God has something speci_c and purposeful for every individual. It is God’s plan and purpose for you to live your life to the fullest for His glory. He has called you, equipped you, and will encourage you to accomplish what He has created for you to succeed in.
Our peace is interrupted by stress and disagreements with one another. When this occurs, there is a verse that I have kept as a guiding light in my life, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge…” (Romans 12:1719). I do not try to get the last word because to me that is taking revenge. What good is there for us to be right if we make an enemy by our words?
The _rst verse I remember memorizing is, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). I have fallen short of this verse but it remains a constant reminder to seek the highest good and to control what I say.
Clayton P. Adams, West Memphis, Arkansas, email: claytonpadamslll@gmail.com.
Clayton Adams
Time in the Word
