Daily Light - July 5, 2011

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"The lamp of the body is the eye."

Matthew 6:22

Our eyes help us to understand and discern our surroundings. Just a faint amount of light can keep us from stubbing our toe as we walk through a dark room. That light makes us more aware of the obstacles that lay in front of us. This is the discerning light of life that Jesus is referring to. The light found in Him gives us a heart of understanding about what is going on in our lives.

Why then do people that know Christ make foolish decisions from time to time that get them in so much trouble? The problem is obviously not the light because it emanates from God Himself. The lack of discernment occurs when we take our eyes off of Christ and put it on man or try to make decisions using a clouded discernment. There are times when people that know better tolerate sin in their lives or do not confront sin that is obviously before them. It is puzzling because these people claim to walk in the light. Unfortunately, what has happened is that they took their eyes off of Christ and placed it on their own opinion of the situation. They are now seeing the surrounding events in complete darkness.

Jesus follows this statement about the light of the eye with the declaration that no one can serve two masters. This is not a change of subject but a further expounding upon what has already been said. You cannot have two definite opinions on a subject. One is right, and the other is wrong. There is a temptation for us to immediately follow and be loyal to that which makes us most comfortable, but what if it is wrong? Can we be honest enough with God and ourselves to admit it?

This passage concerning masters is just as relevant today as it was when Jesus first spoke it to His disciples. There are many masters that have taken the place of Christ in men's lives. There is of course the master of money, the master of lust, the master of power, etc. We have even allowed other people to become the masters of our lives. We bow to them and submit to their authority even when in our heart we know that something is not right. Jesus emphatically said that you have a choice to make over who or what will become the Lord of your life. Either He is Lord, which means the owner and ruler of every thing, or He is nothing. That is a decision that each individual must personally make.

May you see clearly by the light of the Lord Jesus Christ today!