For All to See

For All to See

5:12

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-16‬, ‭NIV‬‬.

When my husband and I lived in Africa as missionaries, clothes were washed by hand and hung out to dry. I remember walking by a neighbor’s yard and noticed that all her private wares were hung outside for the whole world to see. I remember thinking, “That is one ugly bra, she should have kept that one inside.” She apparently didn’t have anything to hide and was not ashamed of what she wore. Her focus was elsewhere.

This might not be a town on the top of a hill or a light on a stand, but her clothesline was out in the open for all to see.

Today, I might not hang out my laundry for my neighbors to see, but I do hang up something. Hopefully it’s my love for Jesus for others to notice. I talk freely about my love for Him and His love for all of us. I don’t want to ever be embarrassed by Jesus again. I don’t want to hide His light, that shines of His gifts of salvation, freedom, forgiveness and hope. That lesson was learned years ago.

Like laundry on a clothesline, I want to display Jesus for the world to see. I want to defend His goodness when the world is calling Him mean and hateful. I want to stand up and say there’s nothing wrong with being holy, as He has called us, (1 Peter 1:16). Even though there are many who hate holiness, and what it represents.

•Definition of Holiness:

Holiness means being set apart (sanctified) for God's purpose, reflecting His moral purity and character, rather than just following strict rules.

Followers of Jesus are allowed to exchange our sin nature of selfishness and greed, and have it replaced with holiness and a servant’s heart. This is good news. It’s not a holier than thou attitude, it’s being set apart to serve like Jesus served. We get to be changed into kinder, more loving and forgiving people. All due to God’s holiness working inside us.

I would much rather drive next to a holy version of someone versus a selfish version. There’s just more kindness behind the wheel.

What’s on your clothesline, for the whole world to see? Are you embarrassed about what you are hanging up?

Father,

Thank You for Your grace years ago, when I was embarrassed about knowing You and teaching about You.

Thank You that Your forgiveness came with truth and a lesson.

“If you, Susie Wong, are embarrassed about me, I will be embarrassed knowing you.”

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels,” Luke 8:26, NIV.

I don’t want to be embarrassed about knowing You, ever again.

Thank You for helping me get to know and respect You better every day. This has led to years of love and service for Your glory.

I want to set Your light out for all to see. I want Your character to be my own.

Thank You, Father, for loving me the way You have always done. I love You, always.

Amen.