Let Your Light Shine Bright



Do you think that only certain people have a 'light' within them?

Do we not all share in common the breath of life, regardless of our views and beliefs?

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

- Genesis 2: 7

If you are alive and breathing, you have the breath of life within you!

Viewing the world from this perspective, we can see how gracious God is with every person who has taken a breath.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

- Matthew 5: 43-45

There was a time, when varieties of peoples and cultures had yet to mature into accepting one another as equals, when separation was the norm.

We can now see clearer how God has been gracious with people regardless of their temperament and actions towards others.

We can see how all of mankind is our neighbor.

He calls us to accept each other as brothers/sisters.

If you've learned something from a stranger, seen a twinkle in the eyes of someone, you have seen their light.

We see people's light when they are giving an inspirational speech.

We see their light when they move us in our hearts.

We all have a light to share.

“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: 16
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Comments

Kevin McCue said…
We have to distinguish between a true light and a false light. Jesus is the true light, Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.." Jesus said;" let thy eye be single, then you're whole body will be full of light" in other words, be not double minded, but rather bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, we will be like Peter by faith walking on water till he averted his gaze from Jesus. Continuing; "but be careful that the light in thy eye be not darkness for then how great is the darkness of the whole body" Here we are to consider whether the light we have is from above or beneath, of God or of Satan. So, in light of this; Yes, God does give heavenly light to some people, "thank you Father for revealing these things unto babes..." and the rest of mankind are left in the false light.
April 10, 2015 10:57 AM
Edmundo Santiago said…
Thank you for responding, Kevin.

I agree with the spirit in your points shared; may His Holy Name be praised!

I have a few questions:

What did you understand from what I mentioned in this particular blog post?

If "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows," who can honestly call a good and perfect gift false, or call a light a false light?

When you quote about Satan masquerading, isn't this mentioned regarding the spreading of an alternative message? If I have spoken of a different Gospel in my post, please correct me.

When you quote Yeshua speaking of the light in one's eye, is He not speaking about the darkness of sin and not so much doctrinal disputes as the Satan masquerading passage eludes to?

Since each person is at a different step on their journey in this life, who and how are we to determine what they see as a light as being from either place, as you suggest?

Please quote the 'false light' passage in Scripture so I and those who read this may learn.
April 10, 2015 12:30 PM
Kevin McCue said…
Yes, to answer your questions: I first took exception to your initial question; "Do you think only certain people have light in them?" I immediately thought, of course God's people the elect have the light of the world Jesus Christ, given to them to be in them and they are the "certain people" that have light in them. Regarding the darkness, as in "thy eye be evil" Matt 6:23 How can light be darkness as this passage states? Only if it's a false light, this darkness of course is sin in ourselves and in any other way it manifests itself from the father of lies who transforms himself and his ministers (demons) into angels of light. 2Cor 11:14 yes, through false doctrine as well, Rom 6:17 2Jn 1:10 "many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the land" le's identify them, calling them out to warn the sheep. The light of nature teaches the natural man of the godhead Rom 1:20 2:15 and convicts his conscience of sin for which he is without excuse and even with this light, the unregenerate man prefers darkness to light and can not comprehend (see or understand) the light Jn. 3:19 1:5 and he suppresses the truth in unrighteousness Rom 1:18. But the light to see Christ is God's gift to those he has appointed unto eternal life. Jn 6:40 Acts 22:14 The other point is; "good and perfect gift" Ja. 1:17 John Gill in his Bible Commentary has good words on this verse. He separates the "good" gift (temporal) from the "perfect" gift (eternal) check it out. I don't detect another gospel in this blog, such would show itself if salvation is in any way dependent on man's decision or performance of any duty, that would violate grace and would render that one "fallen from grace" Gal 5:4 not that he ever had grace then lost it as some teach but that he is not submitting himself to the sovereign prerogative of God to have mercy on him or not Rom 9:18 instead he assumes he has God's grace because he falsely believes that Christ died for everyone's sins so that includes his so he's in if he wants to be. That is not the Biblical Gospel and there is no salvation with such a belief. I want to take the time here Bro.Ed to comment on a verse you quoted to me when you said my beliefs were divisive, you said; "Jesus prayed that we all be one" That oneness he spoke of in Jn 17:21,22 was not that all professing Christendom, that the varied denominations, would be one but that all those his Father gave him v.12,20 would be one with him as he is one with his Father and they all will be. thanks for letting me share on your page.
April 10, 2015 8:05 PM
Edmundo Santiago said…
Thank you for clarifying your position, my dear brother Kevin.

I appreciate your thoroughness and the inclusion of Scriptures in supporting your point of view.

Who other than God can judge anything ( people's beliefs and how their faith is explained by them or perceived by others ) and who other than God can judge anyone with absolute and accurate wisdom?

Does any man or group of men have absolute knowledge and the exact doctrine? Haven't groups of men tried for centuries to figure all things out and their repetitive outcome has continued to be strife, indifference, pride and lack of love for others? We have already seen this with the early church... and still Today among the varied denominations and other groups... but His kingdom is one and we cannot see who is and isn't a part of it.

We can read the first steps of loosening, but we don't know how far things have been loosened, now can we.

Thank you for sharing and outlining your doctrinal position.

If you would please respond with your thoughts on what you read in this particular blog post ( my first question ), I would greatly appreciate it.
April 11, 2015 12:47 AM
Kevin McCue said…
"Who other than God can judge?" Is that to say, that the believer is not to judge? I feel to let the scriptures speak for themselves here. "first remove the beam in your own eye then you can see clearly to remove.." Matt 7:5 "who has made unto us wisdom.." 1Cor 1:30 "He will teach and guide you into all truth" Jn 16:13 "for we have the mind of Christ" 1Cor 2:16 "he that is spiritual judges all things" 1Cor 2:15 "if any man lacks wisdom.." Ja 1:5 "every tongue that rises against you..." Isa 54:17b "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction for instruction in righteousness." 2Tim 3:16 Now to balance this because we are not omniscient, we should include the following: "judge nothing before it's time.." 1Cor 4:5 "he knows nothing as he ought to know it" 1Cor 8:2 and "we see through a glass darkly" 1Cor 13:12 May God's people awaken to the authority Christ gives us as ambassadors for him "he that receives you receives me and in receiving me they receive the one who sent me" Matt 10:40 therefore reprove and rebuke in all authority 2Cor 5:20 2Tim 4:2 Titus 2:15 In all this "speaking the truth in love, patiently, not striving.."Eph 4:15 2Tim 2:24 Amen.
April 11, 2015 4:59 PM
Edmundo Santiago said…
Kevin, you have yet to respond to my request for your thoughts regarding what this blog is saying.
April 11, 2015 6:10 PM
Kevin McCue said…
I don't know if this is going to answer your question but I'll try this: Upon reading your blog, I thought this is making accommodating language out of scripture. By that I mean, giving a verse a universal or to accommodate everyone interpretation. For instance; you take Matt 5 and having previously argued that all men have light by reason of creation, not just "certain people", you say we should all let that light shine. The truth is the sermon on the mount or the beatitudes were given by Jesus to his disciples and by extension, to all of Christ's sheep to the end of time Jn 17:20 not to the multitude that had originally assembled. v. 1,2 This sermon outlined the principals of kingdom living for the elect, not the "golden rule" that everyone should strive to live by as a ethic of behavior. For the elect alone have a heavenly Father v.45, being adopted into his family Rom 8:15 and they alone have purified hearts v.8 Acts 15:9, for they have been "translated" into the kingdom (out from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light Eph 5:8 1Thes 5:5) by the Holy Spirit in regeneration Col 1:13 they alone have light to shine by Jesus who lives in them Gal 2:20 Jn 14:20,23 the unregenerate have no light except that of nature and that they suppress. The other thing is: Re. "brothers and sisters"; In an earthly sence through the progeny of Adam, we humans are all related "and has made of one blood all nations of men.." Acts 17:26 But Jesus makes it clear that there is a earthly family and a heavenly one and His brothers and sisters and mother are they who hear the word of God and do it. Mark 3:35 even disavowing his earthly family if need be. So, I regard believers as my brothers and sisters in Christ, the rest are neighbors or as I put it; "the saints are my friends all others are acquaintances", not as I perceive your intent, that all humanity is to be regarded as brethren, that's a little over generalizing for me. I hope I answered what you're looking for, see you on Pine.
April 12, 2015 6:38 PM
Edmundo Santiago said…
I asked for your thoughts and you gave them to me, along again with your doctrinal position, so yes you partly answered my question, thank you.

I see the effort in Christ is to cast a net wide and far.

I see Christ accommodated His listeners and spoke to their hearts.

He mentioned certain things to certain audiences / hearers, depending on their place in life and their condition.

Since I cannot see the hearts of men or know if they are saints, sinners on their way to becoming saints, or those who would be ever hearing but never understanding, it is not my place to pick and choose the fish or put stumbling blocks before my listeners / readers.

We know it is the angels who will choose between the fish; it is the angels who will separate the sheep from the goats.

My job, while in the flesh, is to cast the net and not consider 'who' is or is not chosen by God.

My job is to love everyone, forgive everyone, teach everyone... and it is those who hear / read which will choose... and it is God who draws them or disperses them.

Far be it from me to disperse those who I cannot tell to be chosen or not.

For those who have ears, let them hear.

See you on Pine.
April 13, 2015 12:37 PM
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