“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp-stand so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come into light. Therefore, take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.” Luke 8:16-18

When I was 5 years old, my brother & I decided we would play with fire, passing our hands quickly through a candle flame. I don’t remember how many candles we went through that day, but eventually we got bored and started challenging one another to go slower with each pass. As the saying goes: Play with fire, and you’ll get burned.

Today’s passage reminded me of the impracticality of putting a candle in a basket, or under a bed. Not only will these practices keep light from shining, (which is the purpose for lighting a lamp), but they will also burn-down your house!

Yeshua told His disciples that one of the signs of a believer, is their desire to share the gospel with others.

Desire and boldness are two different ideas. We can have the desire to share our faith, but if we are seized with fear, we may not act upon that desire. Yeshua is saying, “Go for it! Be bold!”

Believers should resist the flesh’s natural bent towards self-preservation with respect to evangelism. Furthermore, Yeshua is conveying that it is IMPOSSIBLE for true followers to hide their relationship with Him, long-term. Just as a lit candle in a basket (or under a bed), will eventually ignite its container and spread it fire, so one’s relationship with Yeshua cannot be hidden for long.

If you are successful in trying to hide your “lamp”, perhaps you should check and see if there is any flame on the wick!

I have attended several “memorial” events, where everyone was given a candle. Somewhere in the service, one candle is lit. Then, its flame is shared with the next person…and so on, until everyone’s candle is illuminated. This is the idea Yeshua is communicating, when He talks about how those “who have” are given more.

Suppose someone tries to recreate the candle lighting ceremony, at another congregation across the street…only, they never light their “starter” candle. Instead of a room full of lit candles: darkness. Eventually, everyone would go across the street, where true illumination replaces the image of it. “Even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”

Share your light, if you've got it. If you don’t have it, please allow me to share my light with you…Yeshua is the ONLY Way, and if you turn to Him, you WILL be saved!

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Monday, June 10, 2013