Light the path! (Luke 8:16-21)

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! Says David on Psalm 119:105. Our Lord Jesus spoke of this lamp in Luke 8:16-21. Yes, We are still on Luke 8 and as you remember, we are listening very closely and plan to unpack slowly so be prepare, and I pray that you do sit with me at this table for a while. Let us break bread and eat and hear what The Lord says to us today.

In the parable of the Lamp, The Lord says that no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp-stand so that those who come in may see the light. David says The word of God is our lamp so the idea here is that if God’s word is in our hearts, we can’t contain it. We have to bring it out somehow and let it light up the path of those who don’t have it or is dim. I don’t think  the only way is to preach it or to share it, Yes, to preach it and to share it but also to live it and to be it.

Our Lord has equipped us with many gifts and they all have the same goal. To join him in His work for the sake of EVERY SOUL. For He wants no one to perish. He is emphasizing this principle so much, that He says that as our light is in the stand nothing will be hidden that will not become evident nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. At first I thought of this as a judgement statement but today I see it also as a healing statement for without seeing or knowing what we are doing wrong, we will not know to heal it. This is why pain is important in our bodies for if there is no pain, we will not know that there is something wrong.

As we are that lamp and shine as bright as we can, We  are helping our brothers and sisters walk their path. We are sharing out of love for our Master and for what is in His heart. Humanity is in His heart!. We are doing it not to check the mark, not to look good, not to get promoted, not for our benefit and yes for our benefit for this is what makes us whole. Jesus, The Word of God in our hearts is what completes us!

He warns us to take care of how we listen to this parable. For whoever has He says, to him more shall be given and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. It is the same statement we find in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, they were all given talents. One five talents and he brought 10 back to the Master, the other was given two and he brought four back. The Master was equally pleased with both of them because they were faithful with their talents(gifts) and used them accordingly. He was not happy with the one that buried the talent for fear. He did not know his master and did not produce anything or make a difference. If we place him on this parable, He put his lamp under the bed and did not light it up. He lived in fear and what he thought he had, which he hid, It was taken away from him and at that day, he received no mercy. His time was done.

Jesus Finishes that lesson when He is told that His mother and brothers are waiting to see Him. He wants us to really get this!. This is why he came, This is why He gave his life so that we would have redemption of sins and freedom to light the fire that is now in us and share for the freedom of others as He commanded us to do. He said to them on verse 21 ” My Mother and my brothers are these who hear the Word of God and DO IT!

How can we be that light? Jesus said in John 8:31-32 If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of mine and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Yes we need Jesus to pay for our sins but after we have received that gift of salvation, we have some work to do. don’t remain stagnant, don’t rely on others to teach you. We have freedom to study his word, do it!  We need to stay in His Word to be and to have the life we are destined to have. To claim our new identity, otherwise we remain blind and in slavery. We need the vision to see and the knowledge to be aware of how He has equipped us. As we do, we take the tools he has given us to  ignite the lamp we are to put on that stand and to join Him in His work. Light the path! You got it!