We have been looking at the command to be light in a dark world. Yesterday, we saw that being a light can bring suffering. Jesus says in Matthew 10:24: "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." Being the light sometimes involves taking a risk (in the natural it seems like a risk but the reality is the risk would be in not being a light). One of my children worked for a company that involved sales to the general public. In his training, they taught the employee to create a sense of urgency so the buyer will feel he must buy right then or lose some benefit. Many of the employees will make up stories in an effort to create the sense of urgency to make the sale. My son informed them that he would not lie to make a sale. They knew he was a Christian so now the being a light takes on the appearance of a risk. If he can't perform his job well without lying like the others, he could be forced to adapt to the world (i.e. lie) or lose his job. In the first month, having made the decision to walk in truth and be a light, he is about to break the single month record for performance. The light is burning bright and others have noticed. The point is not the job performance, it is the light. Now understand, not everyone is happy as what they perceive to be a special favor upon my son.
As explained in Ripley's Four Gospels: "Jesus proceeded to caution them against any vain expectations that might arise as to their message being universally received, and respect being universally paid to them. The disciple is not above his master. They knew how their Master had often been treated, and they must not calculate upon better treatment." One person that used to be somewhat friendly to my son, now barely speaks to him. One mockingly calls him "Jesus." You see that being a light does involve exposing the darkness and sometimes that darkness doesn't like it. The issue is your being a light and not the response to that light. Their response is outside your control and between them and God.
Today wherever you go and whatever you do, focus on being a light. Don't worry about the response to your light; just be the light. You will find some drawn to that light in you (i.e. God's working in your life) and others repelled. That is their choice not yours.
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