Luke 8-B “Lamp Safety”

S = Luke 8:16-18  “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

O = Jesus’ brief parable is one they would immediately understand… a softball pitch of a parable—an easy one! If you cover a lamp with a jar there is no light to help anyone and the lamp will go out. If you hide the lamp under a bed you will burn your house down and will be mocked by all like “Old Lady Leary” whose cow kicked the lantern over! But what is the lamp that has been lit? It is hearing Jesus’ message. It is harmful to try to hide what he is teaching us. Put it on a stand. Live in the light of his teaching.

A = Do I respond to the teaching of Jesus in obedience and in testimony, or do I just try to stuff it away and not deal with it? If I choose to not fully “hear” by compartmentalizing my life, keeping secrets, camouflaging my character, then even what I think I have (as regarding moral sense) will be taken from me. But if I am fully open and honest to Jesus’ words then I will hear more and more, all the time.

P = O Lord, thank you for enlightening my dark soul. May I not try to hide in the shadows from you and from people. May what you do in me give light to all who are in my life. May I be able to continue to hear your voice. Take not your word from me O Lord I pray!  Amen.