Moment of Meditation: Lampstand (Matthew 5:15)

"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."
(Matthew 5:15)

Lampstand

December 31, 1982 will always be etched in my mind. Shortly before 11pm, my family was coming home from a New Year's Eve party at church. Coming home to a house engulfed in flames. Very traumatic time for a five-year-old to think of all his belongings on fire.

That house fire was caused by an electrical short. But it could easily have happened with a candle or oil lamp remaining lit. When you light a candle or a lamp, you place it out where it can be seen. Even if it's just to provide a scent for the room, you don't light it and put it under something. That could cause the house to burn down.

We light candles and lamps so that we can see when there is no other power available. But the light is of no use if you can't see it. So also is faith. St. James writes, "Faith by itslef, if it does not have works is dead. ... Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (2:17-18).

Faith is not to be kept inside us. Faith is to be shown and to give light to others. Faith is how people know whose we are. Faith is the fire that burns within our bones, waiting to enlighten those around us, as Jeremiah says (20:9). Enlighten your neighbors with your lampstand of faith today. Amen.