“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, NIV 1984).
My Musings – What kind of light are we shining these days? I’m afraid much of it is not a true reflection of the Lord that we serve and does not deserve to put on a stand for all to see. Too eager to condemn unbelievers when “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18, NIV 1984). Too easily forgetting “that is what [all] of [us] were. [Before we] were washed, [we] were sanctified, [we] were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, NIV 1984). Raining down hell fire on the world is not letting our “light shine before men.“
My Advice – “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor.” (Proverbs 11:12, NIV 1984). A man who judges his neighbor derides the light he is supposed to “shine before men.” “What business is it of [ours] to judge those outside the church?” (1 Corinthians 5:12, NIV 1984). Condemning those who are condemned already is pointless. So, let’s reflect the light of Jesus who is the only one who can rescue them from the darkness.

Great post!
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Thanks Ken!
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“Condemning those who are condemned already is pointless” is a powerful statement. May God’s light shine upon us. Thank you, Steve. 🙂
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Thanks Nancy!
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Your “My Advice”: Exactly! Blessings, Steve!
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As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:5
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
John 17:15
For this people’s heart is waxed thick, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; Lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Matthew 13:15
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Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22
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