Be Real

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

BE REAL

Luke 8:16-18

16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." 

NIV

Several truths here that could be taken on their own merit, and perhaps have been, yet this is the follow up statements of the four kinds of soil parable and its explanation to the disciples of Jesus. So he tells them if they are the good soil and produce a great crop, that is they allow the word of God to grow in their hearts and become the men God desires them to be, they should not hide that change in them. They cannot keep their knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom to themselves. They must stand tall and let everyone around them see the light of truth in their lives.  If we keep our salvation, our secrets of the kingdom of God completely to ourselves of what value is that? If we hide our knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom would we be in danger of even losing that knowledge? It appears that is want in fact Jesus is saying. If we only think we have the secrets but hide them away, not sharing them with anyone else, not showing the world the light, the enlightenment within us, either the devil, or the cares and desires of this world will steal or choke out this knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom we think we have. But if we allow this truth to make a real, not just a perceived change in our lives, then we not only will produce a great crop, but we will actually be given more knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom. The brighter we shine, the more we grow in Christ, the more we share the truths with others, the more they see the actual change in our lives, the more we grow and the more we learn about the secrets of the kingdom. So what is our response to having been given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom? First be that good soil and allow the word planted within us to grow in full view of everyone around us, then allow them to enjoy the crop, the fruit which the word has produced in our life, sharing with them all that we have knowledge of. Be real, not just appear real.