Being the light

Matthew 10:24  "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25  it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 26  "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27  What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28  Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30  And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32  "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33  but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36  and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38  and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40  "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41  Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42  and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Christ-followers are asked to live transparently and without fear. As recorded by Matthew: "nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.   What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light”   This is the uncompromising truth that we live by. We refuse to accept bribes, or to offer service in exchange for special favours, or to use our position and status for personal benefit.

This is a personal commitment that must be sustained every day. This is also a commitment to being part of community movements such as Exposed, or Unashamedly Ethical.  Christ followers choose to live “in the light” - even if this costs us friendships and family relationships.  Our commitment is to being the light in a dark world.     

Ordinary 29 / Pentecost +22

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.