Thought of the Day !!

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

                               Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

The Church’s purpose has always been to be a missional community.  But much too often it becomes an inward institution.  The same can be said for us as individuals.  This is what we must fight with every fiber of our being.  We were called to be a light that shines Christ through word and deed.  Let us not become like the lighthouse in this parable.

Once upon a time there was a small fishing community located on a rocky shoreline of the great sea.  There were many ships that passed near by because of the big port just down the shoreline.  And all too often the ships would come to close and hit the rocky barrier just beneath the tide.

As a gesture of goodwill the townspeople got together and built a lighthouse so that there would not be so many ships sinking outside their village.  They did this to make the sea a safer place for others even though it really did nothing to benefit them  This is because everyone in the small village knew exactly where the rocks were. 

The lighthouse did its job well.  Immediately there was a decrease in accidents.  And this, of course made the people of the little village very happy.  They had a sense of accomplishment and pride in the fact that they had helped their fellow man. 

After a while though, some began to suggest that since the lighthouse had done so much for so many, that others should be thankful enough to contribute to expense.  Others began to realize that no one had even come and given them thanks for what they had done.  And then there were also those who thought that the light should only shine on the coastal area where they fished so that their own boats were safe…even if this was not the most dangerous part of the shoreline. 

After having a town meeting it was decided that if no money was going to be offered and they weren’t going to receive the recognition that they believed that they deserved that the light in the lighthouse would be stationary and light up only their part of the shoreline. 

When it was realized that there was no light over the most dangerous area of the sea anymore, some people from the busy port down the way came up and built their own bigger lighthouse.  And sea traffic was once again safe.  But in the little fishing village where the original lighthouse had been built this one was starting to need repairs.

Seeing as how it would take a lot of money to fix it up, they decided to simply shut it down.  The building was there.  But no light illuminated from it.  No one was helped by it.  Ironically, those fishermen who used to know where all the rocks were had gotten so used to the light that they had forgotten and ran up on the rocks almost nightly. 

Today the lighthouse still stands.  A few people visit it from time to time and remember how it used to light up the sea.  But the light is now gone.  And it’s nothing more than a building representing something that used to be. 

Our churches are to be shining light outwardly, instead of just within a small section.  And as individuals our lights must shine brightly for all to see, not just a few select individuals, even when we don’t get the recognition that expect.

In the love of Christ,

greg