CANDLES UNDER BUSHELS

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel... Matthew 5:15

Christ has come into our dark world as the great light. For those who accept him, He kindles, as a man lights a candle. In turn we are to use our light and shine brightly, that the world would be illuminated with his glory.

It is true however; that as Christians today, we have our candles burning under bushels. They do not get magically covered by those bushels; we must have intentionally put them there as the verse says.

A bushel is any barrier that keeps the light in you from illuminating the world. It renders your light ineffective. Do you know the bushel that you have put over your light?

For some it is the bushel of fear which says, “What if I do not have the right words to say? I wouldn’t want to offend? What if it costs me my career?”

For some it is the bushel of pride which says, “Why should I waste my time if people won’t listen? Let them get what they deserve.”

For some it is the bushel of complacency which says, “It is not my gift to evangelize. The world does not have an interest in truth any more. Those who are lost should just look at me and see Jesus.”

For others it is the bushel of indiscipline and lack of commitment. We put our hand to the plough but soon draw back into what is comfortable.

For some others theirs is the bushel of people, and what they will think of them when they know that they are living for Jesus. For many more their light is covered by the pursuits of material gain.

For more still, their light is hindered by the anger and bitterness that they choose to hold on to; while for others it is the church. They complain of its corruptions and flaws and decide that their light cannot shine on such a lamp stand.

Whatever your bushel is, the problem is that your light cannot effectively shine in obscurity; neither can it be of benefit to those who are around you because it is hindered.

I pray that God will help you to put away the bushel that so obscures your light that it may shine undimmed. I pray that you will follow those who seek the light within you to shine brightly. May all that is good within you be seen clearly in your life always, for the glory of God.

Crown Jewel