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Independence: Our Light

The Fourth of July is an American holiday celebrating independence from Britain, and it is typically celebrated with fireworks that light up the night sky. Just like fireworks light up the night sky, Christians are the light of this world.

Matthew 5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

For those of us who observe the Sabbath and annual Holy Days who are considered by others to be part of primitive first-century apostolic churches, why is it we read this verse and we never recognize we are called by God to be noticed by others? We tend to pride ourselves on our knowledge of the Bible, but if we are called to be the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, why is it we are hidden from those in this world? Will knowledge make us the light of the world? A quest for knowledge without natural affection can be a signal that we have strayed from the faith given to the apostles of the first century.

2 Timothy 3:1-8
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

The reason we focus so much on knowledge is that we are concerned with obedience to the law of God, and we are to be obedient to the law of God. There is a blessing bestowed on those who keep God's commandments.

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

In our focus to be obedient to the law of God, have we not focused on obedience to the exclusion of weightier matters of the law? Jesus said a woe was coming to hypocrites who focus on small parts of the law and ignore the more important parts of the law.

Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

We are to be obedient, but we cannot ignore judgment, mercy, and faith. There is a reason why pure religion is defined as keeping oneself unspotted from this world -- the not leaving the other undone from Matthew 23:23 -- and visiting widows and orphans in their trouble -- the judgment, mercy, and faith of Matthew 23:23.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

By focusing on serving those in need, we also focus on the weightier matters of the law, and we become a light for all to see and city on a hill that cannot be hidden. When we focus on obedience, our light is hard to see, as avenues for growth are limited to increasing knowledge, and a common way to grow knowledge is to dispute over doubtful things. Several verses warn us to ignore this trap.

Romans 14:1
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

1 Timothy 6:4
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

We spend so much time disputing over doubtful things that we ignore the significance of chapters of the Bible such as Matthew 25. Read Matthew 25 carefully, and note that this is the last major instruction given by Jesus to his disciples. It comes after the Olivet prophecy and before his death. There is a reason why Jesus leaves us with the lesson of Matthew 25, because is helps us to focus on the weightier matters of the law. If we don't understand and apply Matthew 25, we condemn ourselves to our fate. For more on this, read my study on Matthew 25, and why we must be profitable servants.

As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks in the night sky, let us celebrate our Christianity, our calling, not only with obedience that is required, but by living our lives as a light, that city on a hill that cannot be hidden through our application of judgment, mercy, and faith.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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