Burnt out or beaming bright? - Daily Devotional October 8th 2009

Daily Bible Reading - 1 Chronicles 24-25, Ezekiel 34, Philippians 1-2

Burnt out or beaming bright?

This morning when I got up I turned the lights on in the kitchen but only two of the three lights came on. I tried getting the morning routine done but things just were not the same and there were a few areas in the kitchen that were too dim to find things. I did not think that it should be that hard with just one light out but as soon as I replaced it the kitchen was beaming bright once again. I was then able to accomplish the morning tasks much faster.

According to Philippians 2:14-16 you and I are to be lights. Listen to what it says, "Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." To put it simply Paul is saying that it is a dark world and that world needs light and by the way you live your life you can be that bright light that shines so others can see the right way to live.

What we need to understand is that if the world is dark it is not the worlds fault because the world is just being the world. If the world is dark it is actually the church's fault because we are the ones that are suppose to be beaming bright so that the works that are done in darkness will be exposed. Ephesians 5:11-13 says, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible." Philippians says that we are to shine as lights and Ephesians tells us that as we shine as lights we are lighting up the dark places so that change can take place.

The issue is that like my light in the kitchen many of us are burnt out and not beaming bright. We are partaking in the unfruitful works of darkness with our thoughts, speech and actions. We need to become like Motel 6 and leave that light on by living right and setting an example of right living. Ephesians says that it is shameful to even speak of the things the world does, how much more shameful is if then if we stand by while they do it and do not say a word or become that light. Romans 1:31 talks about the judgment of those who practice the unfruitful works of darkness and goes on to say that not only those who practice these things but so will those who approve of these things. If we are not beaming bright and exposing them then by not doing anything we are approving of them. Ezekiel 33:1-9 talks about this same principle. It talks about a watchman on the tower and if that watchman does not sound the alarm when trouble comes than he is guilty for the one the trouble comes upon.

My question to you today is are you burnt out? Are you involved in the same activities as the world? Are you not being the light that you are suppose to be and by not being that light becoming guilty of the same judgment? Or are you beaming bright on your job, in your school around your neighborhood? Are you shining the light so that others can see the way out of their darkness?

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Chronicles 26, Ezekiel 35, Philippians 3-4

Dream Big
Ben