True believers are lights. They are to let their light shine out to make the world a better place by setting the examples. Luke 11-34-36 reveals the secrets. It resonances with the Ancient Chinese Doctrine of Centrality 中庸 which gives us additional guides. See how you can be the light of the world.Bible Reference: Luke 11:33-36 (KJV)
- 33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light
- 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
- 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
- 36 If thy whole body, therefore, be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
Let Your Light Shine:
Jesus begins with a common sense understanding that we put a light, in this case, a candle, at a prominent place, the candlestick, to light out the whole place.
He then proceeds to show us that how we can have light in our body and ends with our body full of light just like the candle he started with. We are to let our light shine out.
This also tells us that we never live alone. Neither can we separate ourselves from the world. Living the life of a hermit is not biblical. We are to engage the society and more importantly shine our light and make a good testimony.
This also tells us that we never live alone. Neither can we separate ourselves from the world. Living the life of a hermit is not biblical. We are to engage the society and more importantly shine our light and make a good testimony.
How to Have the Light?
It starts with our eyes. The input to our body, or more accurately to our mind and heart.
It must be single. Focus on the right thing in contrast with the evil eye in the second half of verse 34. Not double minded wanting this right thing but also not willing to forgo the evil thing. Confucius teaches us 子曰：非礼勿视，非礼勿听，非礼勿言，非礼勿动。意思说，See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil (do no evil)。
◄ Titus 1:15 ► To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
We must guard our input - What have we been watching and reading?
We are to take heed, to develop our character, such that it contains no evil and no darkness.
It also reveals to us that we can tell the inside, the character of a person, by what he reads and how he interprets events.
This also applies to us. We must reflect on the types of books, tv, movies, videos that we watch.
Shining the Light
We shine our light by our behavior. The words we speak and write and the things we do. Are our words edifying? Are they encouraging? Or are we gossiping and bad-mouthing others? Do we act according to what we preach? Do we deliver our promises? Are we helpful? Are we generous? Are we forgiving? Do we point out the right and wrong and make our stands or we just hide away and let the evil propagates?
The Teaching of the Doctrine of Centrality
As I was meditating on the verses, I was reminded of the words that I read earlier in the Book of the Doctrine of Centrality.
《中庸》13v1 子曰：「道不远人，人之为道而远人，不可以为道。」
The Way of Dao is not far from men. Men who pursue the Dao and yet distance themselves from others are not following the Dao.
The Way of Dao is not far from men. Men who pursue the Dao and yet distance themselves from others are not following the Dao.
Here we find Confucius supporting Jesus' let your light shine and not keep it in a secret place.
《中庸》13v3 “忠恕，违道不远，施诸己而不愿，亦勿施于人”，
Confucius explains what the Way of Dao looks like. It is about "what you don't like what others do to you, then you don't do it to others." It is empathy. It is about considering the interests of others. Whatever we do, we must have consideration for others. This is one form of the Dao. Confucius in Analects gives a positive version of this Way of Dao 己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人 We must first build up ourselves and then help build others. We must be successful and then help others to be successful too.
Or in the Bible, we must love others as ourselves. Loving God is seen in loving others.
◄ 1 John 4:20 ►If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Be Single-minded for God and Shine your light in this Christmas Seasons.
Lim Liat (c) 19 Dec 2017
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