Wrapping baby gifts & a refreshing drink ** This little light...

Luke 8: 16, 17, 18

¹⁶ “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ¹⁸ So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

Most of us will be familiar with this illustration because of the song we learned as little children, “This Little Light of Mine”.

And the application is about boldly letting the witness of Jesus in us… be seen by others.

And in this passage, Jesus is using it for either good or evil…

Whatever we listen to and absorb…others will see it in us...

We cannot hide what we have become…

Because, Listening transforms us…

The words that go into our mind and heart will affect the way we see the world around us…

That is why Jesus says, "Consider carefully how you listen." He is telling us to consider not only what we listen to… but also how we listen…

Do we listen with discernment?

Do we sort the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error…?  Not to criticize… but to discern what we will receive…

** A lamp is lit for a purpose… and we want it’s light to be illuminated at its fullest potential.

Jesus is asking us to pay attention to how we listen… to notice how we notice…

Is our mind full of distractions or is our mind is always racing…?

Then you and I need to do as Jesus asks and pay attention.

You see, Jesus gives the illustration of the lamp, to show us that the main purpose of His teaching is to illumine the truth, not to hide it.

Just like, light, serves two functions… it illumines… but it also exposes.

We must take care how we listen, so that we respond obediently to Jesus’ teaching… not shrink from it because it convicts us of sin.

So, let's open our hearts to Jesus' teaching and let’s open our lives to be the place where His light is seen.