on a lampstand

This season of Epiphany, our call to worship at five15 is Matthew five15, which happens to be a part of the gospel lesson for this weekend.

"No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house."

Yet how many of us work really hard to hide our lamp under a basket? How many of us ignore the light that is within us because we are embarrassed, afraid, or self-conscious? How many of us hide our lamp in the name of humility and/or anonymity?

Surely there is the possibility that showing your light could lead to some less desirable personal pride issues, but if we didn't do things for fear that they would lead to pride, most of us would never accomplish anything.

This week, as I begin to ponder the direction of my sermon, I'm thinking about the reasons why we *don't* do things when it seems clear that God desires that we work alongside him.

Let your light so shine before others that they might see your good works AND glorify your Father who is in heaven.