An illustration of how effective simple words can be was given by a visiting speaker at a recent New Year’s Eve meeting. On these occasions, as arranged by many ecclesias, the theme is, “Thanksgiving and Praise”, a fitting way for sons and daughters of God to spend the closing hours of a past year and prepare for the days ahead. It is a time when gratitude is unitedly expressed by prayer and song for the constant mercy and guidance extended to us.
True gratitude can be expressed in other ways—even more tangible—as when the inward spirit prompts the responsive action of daily living in the Spirit of Christ. At this point the familiar words of Jesus were introduced, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”.1
As most of us are inclined to accept “familiarity” as equivalent to “understanding”, we anticipated that the speaker would follow with customary detailed definitions. But our thoughts were snapped out of their “groove” when he said, “Jesus meant just that”: only two single syllable words, but they penetrated below the surface of thought level.
The immediate response may quite reasonably be, “Oh, of course, but that is so obvious”. These two simple words, however, are not so easy to dislodge. They stir up mental questioning. You may either ignore them or face the challenge: “Do I really know what Jesus did mean by His simple words.- (There are 24 words in that quotation, all of one syllable except four, which have two.)
Out of that evening’s quiet contemplation we found that “simple” words carried significant meanings. “Let your light”, for instance, is personal, with individual application, not as if read “the” light. This is the illumination we received by believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Paul’s words show, “God . . . shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”2; “Walk as children of light”3; “You shine as lights in the world”4.
A comparison is implied in the term, “So shine”: an unobscured radiance, like that which could be observed of the “city set on a hill’ —Jerusalem—with the creamy limestone buildings and temple glowing in the sunlight,’ visible from all sides.
So, likewise, the true believer is to be “among men”, and that means more than being a glimmer at ground level, barely visible to the nearest neighbour.
The consistent Christ-inspired conduct, manifest in bearing and behaviour, considerate of others, and careful to keep apart from all that is ungodly, this is a radiation of the “Light” we received; and is to be “shining in the darkness” before men everywhere, so making visible the good works produced by the influence of the Gospel. And that means a wider range of influence than the comparatively small circle of ecclesial contacts.
“Simple” but Divine words, when understood and applied, become a power-source of “illumination” that can be even more effective than “explanation”.
References
1—Matt. 5. 16 R.S.T.
2—2Cor. 4. 6 R.S.T.
3—Ephes. 5. 8 R.S.T.
4—Phil. 2. 15 R.S.T.
Will there be a universal language of worship?