A City on a Hill

Posted on April 27, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Pots and vessels are made to hold something. Mankind, also formed from the earth as well, was made to hold the light of the glory of God as manifested in Jesus.

God has designed mankind to communicate His Deity. In this aspect, we are like no other in all of His Creation, for His fantastic perfect nature, with its completeness, wisdom, and power amazingly relates to, corresponds with, and displays itself through our humanity.

Paul tells us, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure (the light of the Glory of God as seen in Jesus). This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Just as Gideon’s ‘weakened in strength’ army won the battle against a vast enemy by simply displaying the light given them, so too can we be “sore pressed at every point, but not hemmed in, at our wit’s end, but never at our hope’s end, persecuted men, but never abandoned by God; or knocked down, but not knocked out”, simply by smashing our self-interest and letting the Light of God’s glory shine forth!

God is not looking for perfect people to work through, He uses willing and humble hearts who have come to understand, “My old self (with its pride and desires) has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I (the willful and self-interested) who lives, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body (a jar of clay) by trusting in the Son of God (in whose face shines the light of the glory of God), who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

You are not alone. As one who has called on the Name of the Lord, this ‘Light’ of the glory of God resides in you, just as it was manifested in the life of Jesus. You only need to drop your pride and willfulness and it will shine through!

I am now beginning to understand the joy and excitement Gideon’s soldiers must have felt as they smashed the clay jars, revealing the light of the Holy God’s presence, and the enemy that had hemmed them in and tried to knock them down, begun attacking themselves and ran in fear before God’s wondrous Glory.

Graciously, this kind of victorious living is ours, but only through our weakness (clay jars) and His transcendent Power. This is what we were created for, but we must choose Christ over our self-interest to participate in His design.

Choose wisely….

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds (those rooted in the light God has shown in your heart) shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Praying you choose Jesus today

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 6|You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “When you live in the light of eternity, your values change.” – Rick Warren

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. Psalm 119:49