#1063. Receive the light for Life or receive the light for judgment (24/5/24)

This week, in our devotionals, we are focussing on Luke 11:33 - 12:3. Today, we learn about how we can be saved even as God judges us in His perfect light. 

‘There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.’ (Luke 12:2-3 universe enlightenment

Lesson: Let the light of Christ cast out our inner darkness, or let the light of Christ reveal your darkness in judgement. 

You can listen to this devotional at:

If you were to ask the average Christian what God is like, you would get a range of responses. My suspicion is that most, in there description of God, would avoid talking about His wrath and judgement. However, God is holy (separated for good and separated from all that is evil) and so He has to judge. He has to judge all sin. In today’s text, Jesus promises judgement. This is a scary text! All of us, if we are honest, would hate to have what is ‘concealed’, hidden’ and ‘whispered’,  ‘disclosed’,  ‘made known’ and ‘proclaimed from the roofs’! If this text is true, how can anyone be saved? All must surely blush and be ashamed of their hidden selves, and all know that they are not holy! So how are we to deal with this? Is Jesus raising the bar so high that few, if any, can reach the standards? 

Firstly, it’s very important to understand that Jesus is challenging the religious leaders and those who refuse to listen to Him. They believe that they are righteous because they are keep their rules. However, they, as we saw yesterday, are hypocrites and in need of God’s forgiveness. Jesus is warning such people that the light of God perfect holiness and judgment will cast them into eternal darkness unless they humble themselves. Those who reject Christ, who offers salvation to all who will listen to Him, will be judged according to their true, and sinful, status. 

Secondly, those who do listen to Christ will escape this judgement and condemnation. If we allow the light of Jesus’ Word to fill us, as we saw in the last chapter, the light of Jesus’ word casts out all darkness; this means a number of things but, firstly, this is a promise that those who listen to Jesus regarding His death for their sin have the darkness of their sin cast out! As light will send cockroaches fleeing for the shadows, the gospel, received by faith, causes the guilt of sin to be expelled. The light of Jesus’ perfect righteousness has flooded those who receive the light of Christ and so they need never fear judgement! Christians know that Jesus was cast into darkness for them - in their place - so they can be filled with perfect light! 

To truly understand and be amazed at the gospel, we must understand that what was and is ‘concealed’, hidden’ and ‘whispered’ by us, has been ‘disclosed’, ‘made known’ and ‘proclaimed from the roofs’ as Jesus took our curse and shame for us on the cross! 

Response

Let the light of Christ cast out our inner darkness, or let the light of Christ reveal your darkness in judgement. Has the light of the gospel cast out your darkness - your guilt for sin? Are you afraid of God’s judgement or has, or do we understand that:

COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Our message from our series in Luke on Sunday was based upon Jesus’ teaching from Luke 11:33-12:3. Here, again, Jesus is teaching us the importance of loving His Word - His voice - which He likens to raising up a light so that it can shine on us and then, in turn, shine from us.

Please read Luke 11:33-36, and discuss: 

• Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?

• 11:33 - In what ways can we put the light of the gospel and God’s Word ‘on a stand’ in our own lives?

• 11:34 - What does it mean to have ‘healthy eyes’ and what will this lead to?

• 11:35 - What are we to ‘see to’ and how do you do this? 

• SIV - 11:36 - What will the enlightening of the gospel and God’s Word mean for our involvement in Jesus’ mission? 

• SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?

• SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus. 

• Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that's come out of our time in God’s Word.