Editor's Note: This is part of  the devotional I had with the Lord  and wanted to share with you from the archives!

Quiet Times: ( Psalm 18, Proverbs 18, and Mark 4:21-23)

“He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:21-23, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself who Jesus was speaking to.

I learned Jesus was speaking to the disciples and those around Him who had asked the meaning of the parable.

I asked myself what Jesus does now.

Jesus asks them two questions:

 Jesus then makes three declarative statements:

 I decided to focus on the two questions today:

Jesus tells them all this right after telling them about the Parable of the Sower that ends with good soil.

Interpretation:

I asked myself what is the function of a lamp?

The function of a lamp is to give light.

I asked myself what is the function of light?

The function of light is to uncover the darkness.

The function of light is to show a clear pathway.

The function of light is to give direction.

I asked myself what it has to do with the disciples.

Jesus was telling them that they are the lamp and should not be hiding their works but need to let their light shine for all to see that others could see the difference in their lives and give glory to the Lord.

"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)

This can only happen if their lives are not hidden from others like a lamp being hidden under a bowl or bed. If that happens, the lamp becomes no good. It needs to be on a stand. Jesus wants the disciples to take a stand.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. Jesus wants me to be a lamp so my light can shine for all to see so that He is glorified in Heaven. Our actions when they are righteous and filled with light bring glory to the Father of Lights who gives us the Light of the World. Jesus is the Light of the World and if we follow Him, we will not be stumbling through the darkness but living Light will flood our path.

I ask you now dear friend what kind of lamp are you?

Dear friend, we can be a lamp to give light to those around us whether they are family, friends, or foes. Yes, friend Jesus does not stipulate that light should be given only to certain people. Jesus wants our lamp to be on to give light to those around us.

However, if we are not careful in our Christian walk and move away from the good soil, we can be a lamp that is hidden in the darkness of this world. When a lamp is hidden under a bowl or bed it does not give the light that comes from it being on a stand.

This is an important concept for the disciples and us to think about. We cannot be hiding our light but need to let it glow for all to see that the Lord maybe glorified through our actions.

In other words, I also believe this addresses compartmentalization. We should not be compartmentalizing our Christian life where we come of as Christians with our Christian friends but when we hang out with our pre-Christian friends, our Christian faith or the mention of Jesus does not even come into the picture. It should not be that way. I believe through the Parable of the four soils, Jesus was making this point too!

Jesus is the Light of the world and it should be a honor for us to want others to see Jesus in us. There is a time for everything and God looks at our motives. He wants us to be a glowing lamp as we draw our Light from Him!

We can because Jesus promises it to us as I am reminded of John 8:12:

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12, NIV)

May you rest in the Light of the Lord's favor this day knowing He will be our Light! May we become the best lamp for others as God's Word becomes our lamp! Amen!

“Light Amplifies Messiah’s Presence! (L.A.M.P)”/”What kind of lamp are you?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much thy Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path! Thank you for being so merciful and kind towards us. You deserve all our praise. May we always praise you regardless of our circumstances just because you are Lord! Please Lord forgive us our sins as we have gone our own way many times. We are sorry for the times we have not helped our family and friends with the Gospel because of fear we may hurt their feelings. Forgive us when we do not treat those who we see as enemies with your love. Help us as we depend on you to do the right things. May we live by the principles you have given us and rest on your promises! Help us to be the light you want us to be! And Oh Lord please give us boldness to stand up for you no matter who we are with. Thank you so much Jesus. We thank you for being our Light and Salvation! You are the strength of our life. We believe in you! We believe you are standing in our midst with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. We rest in you Lord! Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you want Jesus Christ in your life, you can make this your prayer and He will enter in and transform you! Yes, He will my friend!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much how much you have taught me from your Word. Lord, you know what kind of soil we have been on. You want us to be on the good soil. Even now Lord, I feel I am not always on the good soil. There are so many times I revert back to the other soils and feel the pain and also cause others pain because I have not consistently sought you but gone my own way. I am so sorry Jesus. I know Lord that I cannot live the victorious Christian life on my own but need your guidance and wisdom. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me through your Word as I seek you in prayer. Provide the right fellowship for me at church and away from church. Thank you Jesus! I am so sorry for my sins and acknowledge that you went to the cross to pay the ransom for my sin to set me free. Thank you so much for bearing my burden. Please cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again! Wash me and I will be whiter than snow! Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart as I accept you into my heart! Thank you for making my heart your home and living in me. I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus that you have heard my prayer and answered me! Thank you that I belong to you and you will help me live a victorious life in you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

NEXT DEVOTIONAL:
"How is your W.A.L.K with God?" (Jan 17, 06)

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