“No one after
lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a
stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that
will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and
come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will
be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be
taken away” (Luke 8:16-18).
After teaching about the heart that bears
fruit, Jesus used the imagery of a lamp to teach His disciples about the power
of Biblical truth that is sown in a good fruit-bearing heart. The eager
disciple cannot receive and simply hide God’s truth secretly in the heart. The
life-changing power of Biblical truth transforms and overflows from the hungry
heart and impacts the lives of others too. The illuminating energy of scriptural
truth exposes the dark recesses in the hearts of men. The ever increasing
brilliance of His truth leads the maturing disciple closer to the heart and
mind of God. Today, the Spirit of Truth exhorts us to keep our hearts filled to
overflowing with truth from God’s Word, the lamp that lights our way.
The fruit of God’s Word sown in a good heart displays
the difference in true disciples. Those who hunger for God’s truth have a
different focus. Their hearts cannot be satisfied by anything less than
heavenly truth. Jesus reaffirmed this identifying mark of true disciples… “It
is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:4). True
disciples recognize and are repelled by the foolishness and danger of worldly
philosophy… “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and
empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits
of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Because
they are seeking and believing ultimate truth in a relative world, real disciples
live and speak differently. They have an eternal perspective, a heavenly goal, and
a holy standard for life and faith… “Having purified your souls by your
obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly
from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Jesus promised that truth from God’s
Word will set true disciples free from the deception of the world… “If
you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32), and it will set
us apart from the sin and temptation of the temporal world and keep us available
to engage in Christ’s holy work… “Sanctify them in the truth; your word
is truth” (John 17:17).
The fruit of God’s Word sown in a good heart discloses
the hidden evil in the hearts of others. The overflowing truth of God’s Word
produces a life that confronts the hearts of others. It may be said that the
best in a believing heart may bring out the worst in an unbelieving heart… “For
the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and
discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden
from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we
must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
The fruit of God’s Word sown in a good heart draws
diligent disciples closer to Christ. Each newly discovered truth from God’s
Word is a stepping stone toward deeper, richer truth… “And the word of
the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon
line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:13).
Truth from God’s Word leads to ever-increasing revelation of the heart and mind
of Christ… “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39).
The more clearly the true believer sees Jesus, the more the Spirit transforms
him into the image of Christ… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding
the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree
of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2
Corinthians 3:18).
As we grow up into Christ diligent
disciples are transformed and empowered by Biblical truth…
The Lamp that Lights Our Way.
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