Under a Basket – Luke 11:33

No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. – Luke 11:33 (NLT)

Hiding a lamp under a basket, is mentioned in Luke 8:16-18, Matthew 5:15-16, and the above verse from Luke 11:33. The central idea is light is to be seen, not hidden. Pharisees, instead of accepting Jesus and sharing His light, rejected Jesus. They made false accusations, rejected the truth, and embraced darkness rather than light.

34“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. ”

The word light in the Bible is often used to represent truth, knowledge, and goodness. Many feel that light (lighted lamp) in this verse represents Jesus. Your eye is the lamp of your body when you believe in Jesus and grow in truth, you shine with God’s light. Instead of hiding His light, you place it on a stand, illuminating the darkness and revealing His light to others. Let His light shine in you.

33-36 “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.” -Luke 11:33-36 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, let us shine with Your light and truth. Teach us to follow You by guiding our path and illuminating our way. Let us increase in knowledge and goodness, spreading Your light. Like flowers need light to grow and blossom, let us not hide our lamp under a basket but grow in faith and blossom with Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Light to Shine: John 12:46

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
John 12:46 (NLT)

In this verse Jesus is speaking to a group of people in Jerusalem. The Hebrew people associated light with truth, knowledge and goodness. Darkness was associated with ignorance, error, sin, and misery. Jesus was sent to earth by God as a guiding light to all who sit in darkness, a light to shine in this dark world. Whoever believes in Him is called out of darkness into his wonderful light.

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the true light.

6A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world
1 John 1:9

Jesus, the true light, shines the light of faith into the dark world. He came to save the world and show us the path of peace and the way of truth.

^44-46Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, “Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark. ^47-50“If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world.
John 12:44-46 (MSG)

Jesus is the true light, the light to shine; is he shining in your life?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son the true light. Teach us to let His light shine in our lives and brighten our path. Direct our feet on the path of peace and the way of truth. Like sunflowers, follow the sun and reflect its light; let us follow Your Son and reflect His light. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Light: 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

⁶God said, “Let light shine out of darkness.” He made his light shine in our hearts. His light gives us the light to know God’s glory. His glory is shown in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NIRV)

God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light.
Genesis 1:3

Yes, the name of this plant is obedient plant. It is now in bloom in my front yard. In the photo, sunlight illuminates the flower petals, so they almost glow. God, in turn, made his light to shine to glow in our hearts. This light of love and the sharing of love spreads God’s glory. Let there be light and let it shine!

Where is your heart light shining to push back the darkness?

Prayer: Dear Lord, Let our hearts be inner lit with light and know God’s glory. Help us to be obedient like the name of this plant and follow your path. Lead us toward the glory of Christ’s face. As a strong stem supports the plant and blossoms, help us to be strong and steady during life storms. In Jesus holy name. Amen