WEBVTT 00:04.660 --> 00:10.522 [SPEAKER_00]: As we finish our week on light, today we'll explore our calling to be the light. 00:11.463 --> 00:15.124 [SPEAKER_00]: What's beautiful about this call is that the pressure is off. 00:15.944 --> 00:24.708 [SPEAKER_00]: We have so many misconceptions about what God requires of us, and he is not the taskmaster we so often mistake him for. 00:25.808 --> 00:33.812 [SPEAKER_00]: May you be encouraged today to live out your calling as the light of the world, free from the weight of the world. 00:34.733 --> 00:37.014 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:08.075 --> 01:17.697 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5 verse 14, Scripture says, You are the light of the world. 01:18.637 --> 01:21.718 [SPEAKER_00]: A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 01:24.179 --> 01:33.688 [SPEAKER_00]: The heart of our Heavenly Father is to partner with us in seeing the light of His kingdom advance to every dark corner of the earth. 01:35.129 --> 01:40.354 [SPEAKER_00]: Why He in His perfect wisdom has chosen to use us, baffles me. 01:41.395 --> 01:46.080 [SPEAKER_00]: But His desire to co-labor with us is the truth of Scripture. 01:47.393 --> 01:53.955 [SPEAKER_00]: God has called us to be the light shining into the darkness of others' lives and love. 01:55.516 --> 02:00.217 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus said it this way, in Matthew 5 verses 14 through 16. 02:01.578 --> 02:03.518 [SPEAKER_00]: You are the light of the world. 02:04.559 --> 02:07.460 [SPEAKER_00]: A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 02:08.600 --> 02:15.042 [SPEAKER_00]: Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light 02:18.044 --> 02:27.986 [SPEAKER_00]: In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. 02:30.767 --> 02:36.488 [SPEAKER_00]: For a long time, I considered myself incapable of giving light to all in the house. 02:37.828 --> 02:40.249 [SPEAKER_00]: I know my weaknesses all too well. 02:41.469 --> 02:43.429 [SPEAKER_00]: I see the darkness in my life. 02:44.269 --> 02:46.630 [SPEAKER_00]: How can I give light to anyone? 02:47.798 --> 02:53.283 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, I thought the light I was supposed to give was the light of my own perfection. 02:54.424 --> 02:59.988 [SPEAKER_00]: I thought I needed to get my life sorted out before I could ever minister to someone else. 03:01.229 --> 03:08.916 [SPEAKER_00]: And out of that misconception, I failed to experience the abundant life that comes from being used by God. 03:10.277 --> 03:16.342 [SPEAKER_00]: The truth of Scripture is that God is not calling us to minister out of our perfection. 03:17.542 --> 03:22.123 [SPEAKER_00]: He isn't calling us to figure everything out before we can be used. 03:23.423 --> 03:34.366 [SPEAKER_00]: The most powerful declaration we can make to those in darkness is that we who are in desperate need have been met by a perfectly loving Savior. 03:35.706 --> 03:41.568 [SPEAKER_00]: When all the world sees is our facade of perfection, they know right away that they 03:44.485 --> 04:02.995 [SPEAKER_00]: but when we live with the courage to be truly vulnerable and honest, we open our lives for those in darkness to see the light of God within us, that he and his grace encounters, loves, and dwells with weak and desperate men and women. 04:04.956 --> 04:08.918 [SPEAKER_00]: God is not calling you to share with the world your own perfection. 04:09.959 --> 04:20.426 [SPEAKER_00]: He is calling you to simply be who you are, encounter his loving kindness, and share with the world the grace filled hope we have in Christ. 04:22.268 --> 04:33.896 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to simply let God love you, allow him to mold and shape you into a child who wholly experiences the love of the Father. 04:35.207 --> 04:42.749 [SPEAKER_00]: and from that place of being loved as you are, open up your life and love others as you have been loved. 04:44.210 --> 05:00.115 [SPEAKER_00]: Live today, openly and honestly, before God and man, open up your life to those in darkness that they might see the light of God's glorious grace and live as the light of the world. 05:01.130 --> 05:05.272 [SPEAKER_00]: Illuminating the path to God's heart for all those around you. 05:06.813 --> 05:15.938 [SPEAKER_00]: May you experience the joy, passion, and purpose that comes from being used by God to advance His kingdom today. 05:17.499 --> 05:20.401 [SPEAKER_00]: Settle your heart as you enter guided prayer. 05:50.684 --> 05:56.486 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on your calling to be the light of the world. 05:58.066 --> 06:03.968 [SPEAKER_00]: Remember that all God desires for me today is to be open and honest before Him and others. 06:05.248 --> 06:08.249 [SPEAKER_00]: He simply wants you to be loved and to love. 06:09.916 --> 06:16.404 [SPEAKER_00]: Second Corinthians 12-9 says, but he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you. 06:17.265 --> 06:20.309 [SPEAKER_00]: For my power is made perfect in weakness. 06:21.370 --> 06:29.180 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 06:40.874 --> 06:41.475 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 07:09.110 --> 07:25.824 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, take time to simply let God love you, open your heart and draw near to him with confidence, rest in his presence, ask him how he feels about you, experience his love today. 07:36.081 --> 07:42.684 [SPEAKER_00]: For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 08:00.972 --> 08:01.333 [UNKNOWN]: And last. 08:25.695 --> 08:30.917 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Holy Spirit how he wants to use you to be the light of the world today. 08:32.217 --> 08:38.119 [SPEAKER_00]: Who can you be opened and honest with about who God is and what he has done in your life? 08:39.159 --> 08:40.740 [SPEAKER_00]: Who can you love well today? 08:41.940 --> 08:49.423 [SPEAKER_00]: First John 4 verses 19 through 21 says, We love because He first loved us. 08:50.712 --> 08:56.014 [SPEAKER_00]: If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. 08:56.834 --> 09:03.856 [SPEAKER_00]: For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 09:04.897 --> 09:11.499 [SPEAKER_00]: And this commandment we have from him, who ever loves God, must also love his brother. 10:00.402 --> 10:04.284 [SPEAKER_00]: You are already the light of the world just as you are. 10:05.285 --> 10:08.827 [SPEAKER_00]: God has called you that from the moment of your salvation. 10:09.827 --> 10:14.870 [SPEAKER_00]: Your light doesn't depend on what you did yesterday or the thought you just had. 10:15.823 --> 10:23.350 [SPEAKER_00]: You are the light because God dwells within you and is constantly beckoning you to let him work through you. 10:24.410 --> 10:30.476 [SPEAKER_00]: You are the light because you have been redeemed and your life is hidden in Christ. 10:31.497 --> 10:34.659 [SPEAKER_00]: You are the light because he has told you so. 10:35.838 --> 10:39.419 [SPEAKER_00]: live with faith in what God has spoken over your life. 10:40.439 --> 10:45.441 [SPEAKER_00]: Look for opportunities to see His words spoken over you come to fruition. 10:46.421 --> 10:51.122 [SPEAKER_00]: And work in union with Him, allowing Him to anoint all you do. 10:52.463 --> 10:59.725 [SPEAKER_00]: May those in darkness come to the light as the result of Christ working in you and through you today. 11:16.117 --> 11:18.779 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast. 11:19.159 --> 11:21.761 [SPEAKER_00]: The last in our week-long focus, on light. 11:22.482 --> 11:24.243 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15. 11:25.104 --> 11:35.893 [SPEAKER_00]: If you want another way to experience first 15, head over to first15.org slash subscribe where you can sign up to receive the daily devotional directly in your inbox. 11:36.713 --> 11:42.558 [SPEAKER_00]: or you can also go and download our app by searching for first 15 devotional on your app store. 11:43.178 --> 11:48.862 [SPEAKER_00]: The app allows you to adjust the volume of the background music as well as save some of your favorite devotionals. 11:49.723 --> 11:53.726 [SPEAKER_00]: However you engage with first 15, we're so grateful you're with us. 11:54.487 --> 11:58.530 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.