January 24, 2022 – Monday
Luke 11:33-36 NIV
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.
35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Comment.
I concluded the message on January 9, 2022 with these verses buttressed with two verses from John. They were John 3:19, And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. And John 12:46, I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Then concluded with Luke 11:34a, Your eye is the lamp of your body. And asked, are we letting the light in or are we keeping it out and remaining in darkness?
How did I get there? Let’s look first at v33, No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. No one argues with this, after all it is simply common sense. But the next two verses likely threw Jesus’ listeners for a loop, vv34-35, Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
To make sense of this we only have to recall someone we know who has no light in his or her eyes when the subject is helping someone or doing something for the church, but as soon as the subject of making money comes up their eyes really light up. If this is new to you, just watch the eyes of those around you with different topics. People who love to cook, their eyes will light up talking about different recipes. For others it will be kids, cars, football, etc. The question of light or darkness is determined by their attitude on any of the subjects. Do they want to share, to help, to make things better for others or are they only interested in how they can gain something or be helped for themselves? Thus, when Jesus says, Your eye is the lamp of your body, He is really speaking of the health of your eternal soul.
Watch, be attentive to those around you and especially to your own self. Discover if it is light or darkness in those around you and in your won self. Where you find darkness, address it and address it as quickly as possible. Imagine you have eliminated all the darkness or most of it or at least the worst of it as you begin your walk with Christ. Then the last verse for today enters the foreground, Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Then you will be a lamp among others who are like minded and more importantly those who are still living in darkness. Bring your light to bear on them. Bless them, help them, tell them about Jesus, invite them to church or a bible study. Listen to them with a caring loving heart, something you cannot do with darkness in your body and soul.
The most amazing thing about all of this, is that you have a choice. You can choose to fill your body and soul with darkness, or you can choose to fill it with light, the truth – the good news – of Jesus and what He has done for you and everyone around you. Your choice. Always, your choice. Choose carefully. Eternity is a long long time to be wrong.
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the Light of Your Word to us and even more, Your bringing the Word and its Light to us in the flesh to show us the way to the Light once again. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek