Be Filled with Light

Good morning KIC Lubowa.  This morning we are looking at some of Jesus words to us in the sermon on the mount from Matthew 5-7.  In these chapters Jesus is teaching about many different things and we should take time to study His words and think about what He chose to say.  We are looking at a small part of His sermon.

Matthew 6: 22-23

These verses speak about the things we choose to partake in.  “If your eye is Good” means that we choose to “look” at good things.  The things that we do which are good, the things we watch, the conversations we join in with, the activities we take part in which are good.  This will result in us being filled with light.  Wow!  The things we do and say and watch have a huge effect on us.  Our minds are like recording devices, the things we are involved in will be recorded and played back in our thoughts.  They will affect the way we think, the way we speak and the way we think.

“If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”  Jesus is very serious about sin!  It cuts us off from Him.  If we take part in bad things, watch bad things, talk and think about bad things our whole soul will be full of darkness.  Watch violent films and you will think violent thoughts and approach situations thinking violence is the answer.  Yes!  It has taken me a while to realise this but I know it is true now.  Our carnal side, our flesh, loves to sin and hates the things of God, Romans 8:5-7.  

When we were born again the power of our flesh, that loves sinful things, was broken, but, it is still alive in us.  That is why when temptations come along it seems powerful and is tempting!  We feel a pull to do bad things.  Satan’s main way to get at us is to tempt us. “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” James 1:14.

Now Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan so it is not a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to follow temptations and fulfil them.  Actually, our carnal self is our biggest challenge.  Satan and the World are great challenges to us (although satan has no power over us believers personally, at all) but our carnal self is our biggest enemy.  Our spirit self (we are born again of the spirit) never wants to sin but loves the things of God and loves to be with God.  We are two persons.  Imagine two birds in a cage, one is a dove, representing our spirit and the other is a crow representing our flesh.  If you feed the crow only it will become strong and the dove will become weak.  If you feed the dove only the crow will become weak.  So how we use our “eye” will dictate whether our spirits are strong or our flesh is strong.

Now struggling with temptation can be hard but we do not struggle on our own, we have God the Holy Spirit living in us!  Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-“ John 14:16.  He is our Helper, our Guide, our Counsellor.  He is for us not against us.  Do not get all legalistic and think of all the things you must not do and strive in your own strength to be holy and perfect.  You have a Helper.  Striving on your own against sin will be exhausting and you may become despondent and want to give up.  Live each day with your Friend, God the Holy Spirit.  We are not part of a religion that is a set of laws be we are in a relationship with God as our father and by God the Holy Spirit we cry “Abba Father”, Romans: 8:15.  You were a slave to sin, don’t become a slave to law.

Always remember that and when you do sin come back to God very quickly, get on your knees and repent and then get back up again.  Never think that you have sinned so badly that God cannot forgive you.  He understands.  Jesus came to save you not judge you.

“If your eye is good your whole body will be filled with light.”  Wow!  Do you want that?  Your whole person to be filled with light!  I have two separate friends both called Margaret.  They are both godly women full of the love, grace and wisdom of God.  When you meet them you want to spend time with them.  You want to bring other people to meet them.  You wish everyone was like them.  Look out for women called Margaret!

Why do we obey God?  Some people think that being a Christian means there are lots of things that we are not allowed to do.  But we choose to obey to God because of His love.  “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.  We choose not to sin, even though sin seems so nice and natural sometimes, because of what God has done for us.  “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 and “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.  The longer that I am a Christian and the more I think about and understand the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made at the cross, the more I am amazed at what he did.  I actually find it shocking.  The level of commitment He gave to purchase our lives and the depths of His trust in God the Father are staggering.  It was something remarkable that Jesus gave up His place and all His privileges in Heaven to come to earth as a complete human being.  It is amazing that He literally handed over his life to sinful men who wanted to kill him, the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers.  But even more that as He hung on the cross dying, He was completely separated from God the Father as He took on the sin of the whole human race.  And Jesus chose to do that.  His commitment to making a way for us to be saved is hard to take in.  Praise Him.  Thank you Jesus!

We choose light because of Him, because we want and love to please God our Abba, Dad (a very good and perfect Dad).  Everything we do for God is because we LOVE GOD.  It’s all good!  Hallelujah!  Trust Him.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise and worship You.  You know I am weak sometimes but I want to please You.  I want my eye and my person to be full of light and I want to choose the good things in life.  Please help me.  I want to be full of light so that other people are blessed through me, Holy Spirit together we can do this.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions/Actions

1 Corinthians 10:13 Any areas you are struggling with sin?  Bring them to God.  God is going to work with you.  It can take time.  Also you can tell a friend who loves you and be accountable to them.  

Matthew 6:25-33 What things are you not trusting God for?  Pray and give those concerns to Him.  Ask the Father to help you.  He is for you!

Make a commitment to God that your eye will be good.  Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” Job 31:1.  (“Look” meaning to lust after.)