Bring the Gift of Your Shine #2

Matthew 5:14–16 NRSV

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

INTRODUCTION

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery Light

In the elemental world of the Bible, people live in close correspondence to the daily cycle of sunrise and nightfall. The light of dawn signals the beginning of momentous human activity.

AND LIGHT, ST. AUGUSTINE SAID, EVEN THOUGH IT PASSES THROUGH POLLUTION, IS NOT POLLUTED.....

IN OUR TIMES, OUR OWN LEONARD COHEN’S MELANCHOLY SCRATCHY VOICE REMINDS US TO:

Ring the bells that still can ring

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in

THIS MORNING AS WE CONSIDER THE THEME FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP 2023 CAMPAIGN, “WHAT SHALL WE BRING?”

WE WELCOME THE CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIFTS GOD BESTOWS ON EACH OF US TO BUILD UP

OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, TO STRENGTHEN OUR BONDS AND TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE OUR MISSION......

HERE THE PROBLEM, BELOVEDS, NAMED IN PART THIS WAY:

SOME OF GOD’S CHILDREN LIVE IN WAYS THAT DENY OUR TRUE GIFTS, OUR NATURAL ABILITIES AND

PASSIONS. WE REENACT THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN MATTHEW 25. WE DISPARAGE ANY

ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OUR PAST, WE LOWER OUR EXPECTATIONS IN THE PRESENT AND WE QUESTION OUR

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. AT TIMES, WE ARE ALMOST UNAWARE OF THE GIFTS OF OTHERS. WE FIND IT

DIFFICULT TO TRUST PERSONS AROUND US TO BE COMPETENT OR COMPASSIONATE, AND WE ARE

SKEPTICAL ABOUT THEIR MOTIVATIONS AND INTENTIONS.

AS SURELY AS GOD MADE YOU.....GOD FORMED YOU WITH SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR GIFTS.....WHEN YOU

SHARE

YOUR TIME AND TALENT WITH AND IN YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY, BELOVEDS, YOU LIVE OUT PART OF GOD’S OWN

PURPOSE FOR YOU.......THE STORY OF AMY CARMICHAEL IS ONE ABOUT HOW SHE CAME TO TERMS WITH HER

SPECIAL GIFTS:

YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BROWN EYED IRISH GIRL BY THE NAME OF AMY CARMICHAEL. SOME

OF HER FRIENDS HAD BLUE EYES, AND SHE DESPERATELY WANTED BLUE EYES TOO. AMY WAS A COMMITTED

CHRISTIAN AND KNEW GOD ANSWERED PRAYERS, SO ONE NIGHT, SHE PETITIONED GOD TO CHANGE THE

COLOR OF HER EYES. THE NEXT MORNING, FULL OF FAITH, SHE WENT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR. HER EYES

WERE STILL BROWN.

GOD DIDN’T ANSWER YES TO THAT PRAYER, BUT GOD DID SOMETHING ELSE. LATER IN LIFE, AMY

CARMICHAEL BECAME A MISSIONARY TO INDIA AND RESCUED CHILDREN FROM PROSTITUTION IN HINDU

TEMPLES. SHE WOULD STAIN HER SKIN AND DRESS IN SARIS TO PASS AS HINDU TO HELP THE CHILDREN.

BLUE EYES WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER AWAY.

IF WE DECIDE TO LIVE OUR LIVES ACCORDING TO WHAT WE WANT, WE RUN THE VERY REAL RISK OF MISSING

GOD’S PURPOSE. IF WE CHOOSE TO LIVE ACCORDING TO WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US, WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO

HAVING A RICH, FULFILLING, AND REWARDING LIFE.

JESUS’ AFFIRMATION OF YOUR GIFTS

IT IS SAID OF OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING THAT IT ANTICIPATES THE COMMAND OF JESUS THAT WE

WOULD

ALL HOLD TRUE, THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NRSV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

WE ARE REMINDED BY ONE COMMENTATOR ON THE THE TEXT FROM ST. MATTHEW:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:13–16

A light is meant to shine and give direction. Individuals Jesus described in verses 3–10 would obviously radiate and point others to the proper path. Their influence would be evident, like a city on a hill or a lamp … on its stand.

THE MESSAGE NEW TESTAMENT STATES IT EVEN MORE CLEARLY.....AND CONNECTS THIS TEXT WITH NOT JUST OUR

STEWARDSHIP AIMS, BUT OUR STEWARDSHIP IDEALS TOO......IT READS THIS WAY:

14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.

God is

not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers,

you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that

I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By

opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

THERE IS THIS MARVELOUS CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND HERE AND GENEROSITY.....AND BEING

GENEROUS NOT JUST WITH MONEY BUT WITH OUR WHOLE LIVES......

IT WAS THE SAGE AND LEBANESE POET/PHILOSOPHER, KALIL GIBRAN WHO FAMOUSLY SAID:

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

IT WAS HOW WE GIVE OF OURSELVES THAT CONCERNED OUR SAVIOR JESUS MOST…AND IT WAS IN THE GOSPEL

OF ST. MATTHEW …THAT WE COME TO KNOW HE REQUIRES US TO DAILY SERVE AND LOVE HIM....

JESUS HAD JUST FINISHED TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES THE LORD’S PRAYER AMONG WHOSE VERSES WE FIND,

“GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD”. THEN, EARLY IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, JESUS SAYS, “ASK, AND IT

WILL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED FOR YOU.” “IF

YOU THEN, WHO ARE EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL

YOUR FATHER IN HEAVE GIVE GOOD THINGS TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM?” JESUS’ LISTING OF THE BASIC

NECESSITIES OF LIFE PROVED HE DID NOT LIVE IN A FANTASY WORLD. JESUS KNOWS WE ALL NEED FOOD,

CLOTHING AND SHELTER. BUT HE SAYS OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT COME BY ACCUMULATING

MONEY; IT COMES THROUGH OUR DAILY PRAYER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOD. FOR JESUS, THE BOTTOM

LINE OF THE FAMILY BUDGET COMES FROM ABOVE —BUT NOT BY ADDING THE LIST OF ANTICIPATED

EXPENSES. JESUS SAYS THE BOTTOM LINE OF OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY COMES FROM GOD. TO GET TO

THE BOTTOM LINE BALANCED, WE MUST LOOK UP, BUT MUCH HIGHER UP THAN OUR RATIONAL THINKING

SUGGESTS. THE QUESTION IMPLICIT IN JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT FINANCIAL SECURITY IS ONE THAT ALL OF

US ASK EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.........WILL I TRY TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY THROUGH MONEY OR

THROUGH PRAYER?

LET YOUR LIFE SHINE

WHAT SHALL WE BRING, BELOVEDS, BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD AS WE COME EVER CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING

OF YET ANOTHER NEW YEAR?

IN VICTOR HUGO’S GREAT NOVEL LES MISERABLES, JEAN VALJEAN IS BEFRIENDED AND GIVEN LODGING BY

THE BISHOP, THEN STEALS HIS CANDLESTICKS. AFTER THE BISHOP REPORTS THE THEFT TO THE POLICE,

THE MAGISTRATE QUESTIONS JEAN VALJEAN IN THE BISHOP’S PRESENCE. WHEN IT BEGINS TO APPEAR

THAT VALJEAN IS HEADED FOR JAIL, THE BISHOP RETRACTS HIS CHARGES AND OFFERS A PLAUSIBLE

REASON FOR WHY THE CANDLESTICKS ARE MISSING. JEAN VALJEAN IS AMAZED. WHEN HE AND THE BISHOP

ARE ALONE, HE ASKS, “WHY DID YOU DO THAT? YOU KNOW I AM GUILTY.” THE BISHOP REPLIES, “LIFE IS

FOR GIVING.” THE BISHOP WAS SAYING THE SAME THING JESUS SAID THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. A REVIEW OF

EVERYTHING HE SAID IN THE GOSPEL RECORDS REVEALS THAT JESUS’ TEACHINGS REGARDING THE

SECRETS TO MEANINGFUL LIVING COME DOWN TO ONE WORD — GIVE. GIVE GOD YOUR ATTENTION. SHINE,

BELOVED. GIVE PEOPLE YOUR LOVE. SHINE, BELOVED. GIVE THE WORLD YOUR SERVICE. SHINE, SHINE,

SHINE BELOVED. “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.”

LET YOUR LIFE SHINE, JESUS SAID........AND WE RESPOND MELODICALLY SINGING:

WE’LL Walk in the light (walk in the light)

Beautiful light (well it's a beautiful light)

Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright (Oh Lord)

Shine all around us by day and by night

Oh oh oh oh, Jesus is the light of the world

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.....JESUS SAID, IN ST. MATTHEW.....AND IN IT’S SHINING OTHERS WILL COME TO JESUS,

OTHERS WILL BE BLESSED JUST AS YOU ARE BLESSED.......IN IT’S SHINING OUR GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED......

CONCLUSION

WE DECLARE AND AFFIRM WITH THE PSALMIST IN PSALM 27:1

Psalm 27:1 (NRSV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

The phrase ‘Let Your Light Shine’ implies that we have a choice, BELOVEDS. We can shine the light of Christ or not.

We can have the luminous Holy Spirit living inside of us, but not utilize the power of Christ to use it. We can cover

God’s light, keeping the glow hidden from ourselves as well as others. Instead, we need to release God’s splendor

and bring it to our broken and hurting world.

NELSON MADELA REMINDED US:

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.

WHEN YOU BRING THE GIFT OF YOUR SHINE TO 2023 BELOVEDS YOU GET TO DO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL,

SOMETHING LOVELY, SOMETHING EVEN JOYFUL IN ITS SHARING..........

ONE NIGHT AT DUSK, A YOUNG ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, THE SCOTTISH NOVELIST & POET, WAS

STANDING AT A WINDOW LOOKING ONTO THE STREET. WHEN HIS NURSE CALLED HIM FOR DINNER, HE DID

NOT MOVE. HIS EYES WERE FIXED ON A LAMPLIGHTER WHO WAS GOING DOWN THE STREET FROM ONE

GASLIGHT POST TO THE NEXT. STEVENSON CALLED TO THE NURSE, “THERE’S A MAN OUT THERE PUNCHING

HOLES IN THE WORLD’S DARKNESS OF PAIN, HUNGER, AND STRIFE. FAILING TO ANSWER THAT CALL STEALS

MUCH OF LIFE’S JOY AWAY FROM US.

SO SHINE, BELOVEDS....AND PUNCH HOLES IN THE DARKNESS.....

SHINE, BELOVEDS…AND GIVE THE GIFT OF YOUR EFFORTS TOWARDS MAKING THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE....

SHINE, BELOVEDS.....NOT JUST BECAUSE GOD IS WATCHING, BUT BECAUSE.....YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,

YOU ARE A LIGHT NOT MEANT TO BE HID......AND AS YOU SHINE, YOU SHALL KNOW THE JOY THE DIVINE MEANS

FOR YOU TO KNOW, SENSE AND SHARE.........NEXT SUNDAY, AS WE CLOSE OUR STEWARDSHIP SERIES....WE’LL

CLOSE WITH ONE OF MICAH’S MOST FAMOUS & FAMILIAR PASSAGES AND THE MESSAGE, “BRING YOUR HEAVY DUTY

HUMILITY”

LET US PRAY.........