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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Light

Reflectors…

May 27, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day nor night.” Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.” –Isaiah 62:6.

A restless Saviour calls upon his people to be restless, and to make the Lord himself restless – to give him no rest till his chosen city is in full splendour, his chosen church complete and glorious. –Charles Spurgeon.

Reflectors are not a light source; they contain no light of their own. Instead, they catch and release light already present, reflecting it outwardly. So, the job of the reflector is singular and simple: to consistently reflect light in the darkness. Thus, in many instances, their presence alone helps to avert potential bodily harm or even death.

Think of their job this way: You’re driving down a poorly lit side street at night, and the only thing standing between your hitting and possibly killing the pedestrian or cyclist on the side of the road with your car is your headlights catching the reflectors on their bicycle or safety vest. Just in the nick of time, you’re able to swerve—crisis averted. At that moment, you’d more fully appreciate and understand the importance of a reflector.

You, dear Christian brother, or sister, are that reflector.

You are called to catch the love of Christ: His mercy, humility, kindness, and generosity, reflecting it outwardly into a dark and dying world. By faithfully staying in your proverbial lane, pedestrian as that may feel or seem at times, God will use you to pierce the darkness surrounding that one who may have otherwise been hurt or killed. “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” –Jude 1:22-23.

In this world’s thick, ever-increasing, thick darkness, God has chosen you, beloved, to first catch and then reflect the Light of His presence to everyone you meet. “Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” –John 12:44-46.

As with the Prophets of old, those who carry the Light of Christ within are called to pray without ceasing—to intercede, then intercede some more. To be a faithful and true witness of God’s Love, Truth, Mercy, and Righteousness that is in Christ Jesus. To faithfully share the Truth of the Gospel while standing in line at the grocery store, sitting in the doctor’s office, the airport, whenever and wherever the opportunity affords. They are to consider others—and their needs, above our own—hard, I know.

In and of ourselves, even the saintliest of us does not possess the ability to live wholly selflessly. And, though Christ lives in us, a mystery too great to grasp, our sinful flesh perpetually prohibits us from fully living and loving as Jesus did—commands us to.

The Apostle Paul knew and grappled with this ugly Truth. His conclusion?

Only by God residing in us, empowering us to do what we, in and of ourselves, never could, is even having the desire to love selflessly possible. Even then, our very best attempt at such love is flawed, anemic, and flaccid. Why? There are two natures at war within us. Christ, alive in us, our Spirit man, our true self wars against our carnal flesh, the body and soul we possess still, while we await the day when we will fully be as Christ is.

“For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent). So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.” –Romans 7:15-20.

Our carnal man is self-serving. Hence, why we must die daily to this flesh that wants what it wants when it wants it, and instead, pick up our cross, following Christ’s example of Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests] and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].” –Matthew 16:24.

Reflectors warn the world, one soul at a time, of the danger of walking in darkness, of the coming judgment that will soon visit this world and all who reject Jesus and His free gift of salvation.

We demonstrate God’s love, mercy, and great desire that not one person perish.

We share our testimony—making clear that it was in a pit of filth, despair, and depression, in a church pew or the throws of addiction, where Christ may have found us. And how, because of His great love, grace and mercy, Jesus stepped in and pulled us out of that pit, shining His Light into our darkness, on our addictions, saving us from sin and death’s grip on us. Then He stood us firmly and safely in His Kingdom of Light instead. “This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins.” –1 John 4:9-10.

And so, fellow reflectors, we must, have been commanded—to bring the Light of God’s Love, a Light we have been freely given, into this “poorly lit side street” of a world. One that is losing hope and faith in ever finding such a Love. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” –Matthew 10:8.

Dear friend, if you’ve never experienced such Love or felt sought after, protected, or cared for, I encourage you to consider this God’s way of ensuring you are Loved and sought after, that Jesus wants to care for you, if you’ll let Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16.

Won’t you ask Jesus to come into your heart, confess your sins, and begin to reflect His love into the world?

Loving Others like God Does…

November 21, 2020 /
Stephanie Montilla

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and perseveres” –1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Loving anyone according to God’s pattern of love can be challenging. God’s command to “love our neighbor as we love ourselves” categorically challenges how many in this world understand love.

Assuredly, friends, 2020 has been a year of unprecedented changes. A season of ground-breaking exposures and truths revealed. Of a virus that forced us all behind masks—literally changing the face of everything. So, in a world that is so plainly and rapidly changing culturally, a world that claims inclusion while often unashamedly offering up selective pockets of exclusion, is it any wonder we hear this term “cancel-culture” used? Cancel culture by definition says: withdraw public support from public figures, companies, even from friends, colleagues, and family members who allegedly perpetuate or engage in what it deems as problematic behaviors. A hot topic for sure but please, hear me out. While at first glance this system of beliefs may sound reasonable, offering a measure of accountability to others even, it also sows seeds of deliberate division in our country. Claiming in part that anyone who holds a perspective or to ideals or beliefs contrary to those this voice of counter-cultural deems acceptable is often mocked, ridiculed—no longer welcomed at their table. Other factors dividing our nation today have been our idolizing political parties or their candidates, our collective pride, and overall unfriendliness –among believers and unbelievers alike.

It remains a challenge for many Christians today to not become distracted by the world’s constantly clanging cymbals of current events, and its 24-hour news cycles. Yet despite all the clamoring, as believers, we must hold tight to the very bedrock of what is fixed and unchanging – the inerrant Truth found in God’s Word. Even amid what feels like a never-ending cultural storm. The bedrock of God’s Word is where our firm foundation lays—so, if we have drifted from that place, we must repent and return. Returning our attention and devotion to God, to our bibles, rather than blankly fixing our gaze on our television set. Rededicating our attention and time back to sitting at the Lord’s feet, not mindlessly scrolling through social media. We must be willing to ask ourselves, and each other, the challenging questions:

“How is Jesus Christ being glorified in my every conversation?”

“How are we as Christians demonstrating our faith to a world that is both watching and listening to most everything we say and do?”

“What is God revealing to us in this season? What is our role as believers in what He is revealing? And how can we best be His hands and feet—partnering with Him to bring healing to another?”

“What areas of our lives, my life specifically, require sincere repentance, humility, and prayer?”

Saying all of this then, how do we as Christians respond to the many contentious voices of counterculture? To being shut down, or shut out when our voice or beliefs, our morals, those things we hold dear can’t possibly subscribe to this “new norm” this culture’s agenda?

Our response as Christians must be love—always love. The driving force behind Jesus’s every action was love, not loathing—never just canceling another out. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is part of what sets us apart as followers of Jesus. “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”–Matthew 22: 37-40. Scripture assures me that it is only God’s incredible love that can heal hearts of stone, turning them then into hearts of flesh! Scripture also reminds me that, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” –1 John 4:18. And, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” –1 Peter 4:8.

One of my loudest and most challenging prayer points this season has been, Jesus, teach me, show me how to love like you, even if I don’t feel like it. That’s my raw and honest prayer. I realized my need to pray this way after a few disagreements with loved ones over the issue of counterculture. If I’m being transparent here, I realized I was not modeling the love of Christ with my words nor my actions. Amid intense arguments, I would say hurtful things to the other person out of spite, for fear of losing the argument. I engaged in conversations crossly, not with the intent of being understood, rather, to be right. I remember times when I held on to a grudge to the point where forgiveness felt impossible—times I did not want to persevere in a difficult relationship. Then I was “drop to my knees” humbled. When I expected God’s anger—instead, I received mercy and grace. I received forgiveness, the very forgiveness I needed to extend to others. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” – Matthew 6:14. God’s love is kind, it does not dishonor others, it is not easily angered, and it isn’t proud. It is not self-seeking; it perseveres and rejoices with the truth.

So, what does the pure love of God look like within a culture that is often hostile towards God—His commands? That often lends its nod of approval towards the spirit of division or fear or exclusion?

As Christians, we must always be Light in the world. We must be imitators of Jesus. Period. Offering respect—even when we differ. This is the culture we need to foster, encouraging and welcoming “whosoever will” to join in. Remember friends, Jesus welcomed Judas to the table being fully aware of his impending betrayal—who are we to not be willing to extend this same love to those who simply disagree with us? Our conversations then must be laced with understanding, yet we must never compromise biblical accuracy for the sake of cultural relevancy. We as Christians ought not to participate, nor endorse, anything that cancels out another—God alone is every man’s just Judge. He alone determines another’s fate, not us. Remember, it is by God’s Sovereign grace and His election of you alone that you have a relationship with Jesus—and I for one praise God for that! “If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” -John 15:19.

So, in these unprecedented and trying times, as believers, let’s work to bring about unity by sharing God’s love—knowing fully His love heals, redeems, and casts out all fear. Fear and anxiety of the future are at an all-time high, yet as followers of Jesus Christ, we have the blessed assurance, the peace that comes from knowing that the Lord is living in us. What a perfect reason to encourage peace and hope through our sharing and modeling the gospel of Jesus Christ for, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” –Galatians 3:28.

Brothers and sisters, we hold good news for the world— a world that so desperately needs God’s love. My prayer is that you fix your heart, mind, and soul on Jesus—not on those clanging cymbals of ever-changing cultural norms. Leave them to God. That you, Christian, if you have strayed, return to the feet of Jesus with repentance, a pure heart, and a desire to obtain Christ’s perspective on all that is happening around us. And, most importantly, if you don’t yet know Jesus Christ – I pray that you seek Him today. Asking Him to come into your heart—into your life. He loves you unconditionally, and He is the only remedy needed to heal your hurting heart.

Transformed. Acts 9:3

December 14, 2019 /
“Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”

Friends, for the remainder of Advent, I will continue to share shorter posts centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and, I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live, be remind friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out in this season of hope to refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to, “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time, to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Suddenly: unexpectedly; happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning.

One moment Saul was intent on killing the leaders of The Way and taking anyone who even remotely smacked of Christianity captive. And in the next, he finds himself blinded by the Light of the glory of God. At that moment, Saul experienced the “suddenly” of God. Scripture states it this way: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” –Acts 9:1-2. Armed with letters of authority from the high priest to commit these unspeakable atrocities, Saul had set off for Damascus to address the synagogues there. He was asking for their cooperation in the arrest of anyone they suspected maybe following The Way. He wanted them all, every man, woman, and child in chains that he might have them dragged back to Jerusalem.

Religion will do that to us. It will drive us into believing that even our wrongs are right. It will so blind us to the Truth, that we’ll dress up our sins and earnestly offer them up to God as a sign of our love, our loyalty, just as Saul did. Only the Pure Light of God’s Truth is able to remove these scales, this crust of religious ideology from our eyes, enabling us finally to see this Jesus who is standing right in front of us…

Little did Saul know, however, that he was, and would continue to be, an intricate part of God’s plan of salvation for the gentiles. As a result of his ravaging and persecution, these new followers of The Way fled Jerusalem. And, with them went The Truth. This knowledge of Jesus as their Savior. Of Him being The Way—the only way, back into right relationship with the Father. And this Truth spread with their every step. From one to another it passed, this life-changing Truth could not be contained. It passed from one to another, sating the thirst of each one it filled just as surely as if water had been given to one who is parched. In Saul’s attempt to silence the voice of those that now carried the Word of God within themselves, he had unwittingly become one of its greatest catalysts. But, before Saul could accomplish his insidious plan to bring an end to The Way, however, God would stop him in his tracks—literally. Listen to what God has to say about men’s plans: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” –Prov. 16:9. It was God’s plan, not Saul’s, that would prevail. It always has been, and it always will be…

The verse following today’s Scripture says this: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” –verse 4.

Saul, in the midst of his sinful, awful tirade, hears the voice of the Resurrected Jesus, and its Truth pierces him to his core. At that same moment, he is blinded by the Pure, All-knowing Light of this same Jesus. He has caught a glimpse behind the veil, been made a witness of the blinding Truth of God. All his misguided zealousness, his religion, must now give way to this Truth that exposes men’s darkest deeds. Saul will forever be undone by this one encounter. And so too, must we…

Saul was blinded, yet, in a very real sense, his eyes had never seen so clearly.

In Saul, we’re able to catch a glimpse of ourselves. Our desperate need for transformation, for reconciliation. In Saul we also witness great hope. The fiercest of sinners can be saved! It is not too late for you, for any of us, to turn to this Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to come into our hearts, forever changing them. In Saul, we recognize our deepest need: to meet this Resurrected Jesus face to face. To be transformed, as he was, by this God whose Light is no longer swaddled and lying in a manger, a Christmas babe. Like Saul, we must be willing to leave our religion, our idols, and intellect, our traditions, and pride at the feet of Truth—our love offering, our due. We must come and bow before Him, fall to our knees, face to the ground, in humble adoration, in submission, in awe. Then, stand up, bold, and changed, and willing and wanting to tell anyone and everyone about this Light that pierced the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.

The Light that is coming again, soon, and very soon…

 “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

Jesus came to Saul just as He comes to each one who has, or ever will be, saved: suddenly and without warning. And, just as suddenly, He will one day call us back to Himself—eternally. No man knows that hour. Not even the Son…

Friend, this Advent, ask yourself this one question: If Jesus suddenly showed up today, are you ready to meet Him face to face? Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Paul’s experience alone ought to dispel that lie. Where are you spending your eternity? If you don’t know the answer to this question, please, I implore you, ask this same Jesus into your heart now, don’t delay…

“Nontransferable. Matthew 25:1-13.

December 2, 2018 /

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him..!’

I could start by sharing with you the cultural traditions of the eastern wedding. How it is the groom whom usually assumes full responsibility for the wedding cost in Oriental weddings and not the bride’s father, as in western culture. How it is the bridegroom, and not the bride, who is customarily the center of attention. I could tell you that normally the bridegroom comes for his bride in the early evening—usually around dusk. And, that before him a herald is sent to announce his arrival at the bride’s home where she and her attendants are awaiting his arrival. But I’m not a learned student of eastern customs. And, you might easily obtain this information for yourself—If you’re interested…

I’d rather share what grabbed my attention as I read the opening verses of Matthew 25 entitled, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” More, I know this is what I’m supposed to share.

Actually, there were several points that jumped out at me. Oil, sleep, and relationship…

Yet it was the first that grabbed hold of me and would not let me go. The oil. The mention of oil was the first of the three things that caught my attention. One of three things that all ten of these virgins had in common. They each had oil—at least a measure of it. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I had started my reading in Matthew, Chapter 24. As I continued reading on it became clear to me in Chapter 25 that a chapter division had been unnecessary. Chapter 25 is a continuation of Jesus’ conversation concerning the Coming of The Kingdom of God found throughout Chapter 24 which closes with Him talking about “The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times” and goes into “The day and hour of the coming of the Son of Man”. Then Jesus continues with this theme of the coming Kingdom straight into the parable of the ten virgins in the opening verses of Chapter 25.

But back to what caught me: the oil. Typically, in Scripture, when we hear about oil being used it is referring to the Holy Spirit. Such as when it was used to anoint prophets, priests, and kings (Exodus 28:41; Leviticus 8:12; 1 Samuel 16:13). So why was oil so prevalent in this parable? What was Jesus trying to get us to see? And what did this oil reference have to do with the Holy Spirit and our ten virgins?

The second thing that caught my attention was that both the wise and foolish virgins had fallen asleep…

So if it isn’t the oil nor their mutual falling asleep that made some wise and the rest foolish, what then is Jesus trying to get us to see?

This led me to the third piece of the parable that had caught my attention; their relationships with the person of the Holy Spirit—the oil. More specifically—evidence of an intimate knowledge of Him, a connectedness. Not all had a reserve of oil. But I digress…

If they each knew Him equally wouldn’t they each be equally wise? Similarly, if they each had an unremarkable knowledge of Him—wouldn’t they each be equally foolish? Again, in my desire to understand why some were foolish and some wise, my focus was drawn to their relationship with Him. One that would either prove itself genuine and lasting or one that would burn out over time.  A gift to each of them for sure, this relationship—this common grace. Yet, in order for this very personal gift to burn brightly throughout unexpected delays, before others, throughout trials and persecution, throughout life’s ups and downs, it will require an unbreakable connection to The Source. It must be held tightly, cherished beyond all else. Never given up. Certainly not shared (Matthew 13:44-45).

The five wise virgins had reserves of oil that the five foolish did not. Each had the Holy Spirit, knew Him but, to varying degrees. Hence—the point of the parable; in order to be invited to the wedding we must be “family”, we must have a personal relationship with the bridegroom. Simply hanging around those that are related will never suffice…

Due to the bridegrooms delay the foolish virgins ran out of oil. They had nothing to rekindle their lamps once the initial oil they had with them had been burned up. They had no reserves of their own to draw from. Nothing with which to replenish their lamps. Nothing to rekindle the sputtering, flickering flame of their dying light. And, as a result, they had to leave their counterparts behind and go out in search of more oil.

Unlike our faith in God, we cannot “give-away” (like some piece of bread, some drink) the portion of the Holy Spirit the Father has entrusted to us. What we have has been apportioned to us exclusively. Again, as with our faith, those we touch may benefit—reap the fruits of this unfathomable gift we’ve been afford—but it is not ours to give them. We did nothing to get it, to earn it, hence, it isn’t ours to give away. As with everything else in our lives He—our inward reserve, is a Gift from God. We may share Him, yes. We must! Give Him away, never! His inexhaustible reserve has been placed within us by the Father. This first deposit we’ve been afforded, is to be prized above all else. It is because of our relationship with Him—in Him, because of His choosing of us, that we have the reserve needed to see us through the long night of His delay.

Those five whose lamps sputtered out—whose light died, symbolize those in this world who have a superficial, shallow knowledge of God. They have the same general touch of His Spirit as the rest of the world—the very same common grace. (Nahum 1:3; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 81:11-12; Matthew 5:45b). They run to Him in times of trouble seeking relief from their trials. They open His Word searching for clues that might help them escape their current circumstance—ease their guilt, sooth their grieving hearts, rescue them from their sense of disconnection and isolation. Yet they are not willing to bow before the Lord in humility—confessing both their sin, as well as their deep need of Him in their lives. They do not wish to drink deeply of persecution—they want no part of sharing in His suffering, of dying to self and the things of this world. They have fallen prey to the lie that a little faith, a casual glance at the Bible, a toe-in-the water of faith, will go a long way. That their knowledge of God, of church protocol, their involvement in a ministry, their gift-giving, will get them into heaven.

After all, they’re good people—church people. They “believe” in God—mostly. These unwise souls are people who want to make a partial commitment to God. They’ll try to compromise any way they can. Believing Him in pieces they can easily swallow but never in full bites that need some serious chewing! They refuse to take God in as a whole—unconditionally. They refuse to allow Him to change their actions, never mind their hearts. Having a bit of Jesus will never suffice. That’s what Jesus is saying in verses 11-12. It’s why he clearly says to the foolish maidens, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.”  We cannot hide who we are or are not, from a God who has numbered the very hairs on our heads.

“…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” –1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” –Matthew 25:13.

To the wise brothers and sisters, I urge you to keep a close watch over your souls. Guard with your very lives this most precious gift that has been entrusted to you. Holding tight to the knowledge that He who began a good work in you is faithful to carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And, to you who have not committed your life to Jesus, now is the time. Today the day. The time of testing the waters is past. A little bit of Jesus will never be enough! I urge you today to ask Christ Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior! We don’t know if we’ll have tomorrow. 

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him” Matthew 25: 6!

 

 

 

 

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