As we continue to look at the profound,

life-transforming concepts Jesus shared through parables,

today we'll focus on the parable of the lamp on a stand.

May what might have once been a concept that caused many of us to feel pressure, now bring forth peace,

purpose, and freedom in God's love and identity for us. Welcome to the First 15 podcast. Our verse for today comes from Matthew 5, verses 14 and 15.

Scripture says, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, 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.

Reading Matthew 5, 14, and 15, used to stress me out.

Jesus says, you are the light of the world.

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

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.

How can we, with all our mistakes, misgivings and failures, be the light of the world?

How could God, in all his wisdom, choose to use us to reveal Jesus, the only hope of eternal salvation to a lost and dying world.

As I grow in my knowledge of God's heart,

I grow in the revelation of his desire to use me.

Passages like Matthew 5 used to focus my attention on my own sin and darkness rather than God's grace and love.

But faithfully in his love, he guides my thoughts to what matters.

The overwhelming reality of the Holy Spirit, transforming me into the image of the God who created me.

Today, let's allow the Spirit and the Word to transform the way we view ourselves

and how God in his infinite wisdom would use us to change the world.

Ephesians 2 verse 10 says,

for we are God's workmanship,

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