Thursday, March 27, 2014

REFLECTORS


You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Matthew 5:14

My son took the bicycle reflectors into a dark room and closed the door.  Much to his surprise they do not glow in the dark.   Baffled by this he asked, “Mom, what is a reflector?  I answered, “They are small objects that reflect the light.  They work just like a mirror that allows you to see your reflection.  It’s not really you but it looks just like you.  So for example, if you are riding your bike at night and the headlights of a car shines in your direction their light will make your reflectors appear as lights so that the car will see you.  The reflectors do not have any light of their own. They only reflect the light that shines on them."

This made me think about Christians. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).  The light shining through us is not our own.  We are to reflect the light from and bear witness to the light of the world, Jesus. (John 8:12).  Light has a way of dispelling darkness. The more we empty ourselves the more visible the light. We are jars of clay.  When we are filled with our own goals they color and  expand like coke bottle glass, our purposes thicken and diminish the reflection.  On a rare occasion others may witness the work of God by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  Nevertheless, as we lose our lives our personal ambition grow slim.  As we are weak, and transparent the light of Jesus shines ever so brightly through us.

In Judges 7:15-21, Gideon knew that God had thinned his army but he was willing to go the battlefield with only 300 men.  Instead of carrying physical weapons they carried empty jars with torches inside of them.  They also carried trumpets.  Gideon told his men to follow his lead.  It was around midnight when he led them to the edge of the camp and they blew their trumpets and shouted, “For the LORD and for Gideon.”  They broke the jars that were in their hands. And all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

At the darkest hour, Gideon’s army blew trumpets and shattered vessels and the light surrounded and confused their enemy.  The enemy was planning to destroy God’s people with weapons but God turned that thing around.  God's army used the enemy’s weapon to destroy the enemy!  The supernatural power that believers experience is reserved for worshippers who are willing to risk and steps of faith.  Gideon and His men were willing to obey God.  This sounds like worship:  the broken  vessels , standing in faith, praising God and shining the light.  Consider the bright light that was shining that not only startled their enemy but confused them.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we are reminded, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Yielding to God is not always the most natural thing for us.  However, when we yield to Him, God does the supernatural. If you are facing a difficult situation or impossible circumstance I want you to know that this is when God does His finest work.  Although the situations may be impossible for us they are never impossible for God.  All things are possible with God. In fact, many times our limitations set the stage for us to praise and glorify God.

Can you imagine the story being told by the 300 men to the amazement of the listener?  What God will do with men and women who trust Him?  Who knows what God would do with us if we would set our hearts to be reflectors?  Who knows how great a blessing God could make us if we had a single goal…to reflect His light. You and I are reflectors. Our lives bear witness to an invisible God who defies odds, uses less to accomplish more, and gives victory over enemies. Let us not seek to have a light of our own but to be reflectors of the true Light.

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