＂Light for my path

Guest Minister-Rev.Caesar J.David|Union Park UMC, Des Moines, Iowa

Scripture Lessons:

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.

107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances.

109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.

111 Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!”

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

“Light For My Path“

Our Gospel reading is Jesus’ Parable of the Sower.The Parable of the sower is an ‘allegory’ about the Kingdom of God. The seed is used as a metaphor for the Word of God.And the parable goes on to describe the various kinds of soils that the Word of God can be received in, and depending on which,the result will be a crop being produced or not.

Our lectionary reading from Psalm 119 also tells about the Word of God.One of the conclusions we draw from Psalm 119 is that the Bible is more than “just another religious book”. It is not an academic textbook for learning about religion or even life.The Bible is a dynamic book.It is living. It speaks words that have power.

In v.105,the lamp and light is used as a metaphor for the Word of God. Other metaphors used for the Word of God are: sword, mirror, milk, hammer, fire, etc. Psalm 119:105 says,”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”.

Today’s message is a simple reminder about the Word of God as it lights up our path.

The first thing that the Word of God, as Light, does for us is:

1.It clearly shows us where we stand.

It clearly shows us if we’re standing in the danger spot of our own sin, bitterness, arrogance, stubbornness, unforgiveness, injustice, hard-heartedness, and idolatry.

We may be good, virtuous, righteous in our own sight, but the Word of God reveals us as sinners and as people prone to sin.We may look good in our own eyes,or even in the eyes of people around us,but the Word of God shines its light in the darkest corners of our hearts.

When we walk in ignorance, we may continue making mistakes,sometimes even being unaware of them, God’s Word lights up our path so that we can be sure that we’re walking in the right direction.

2.It is the absolute standard so that we need never doubt. We sometimes measure our steps and direction, right or wrong, according to our own ideas and framework of knowledge. At other times, we measure our steps and evaluate ourselves based on what people say, what society says.That can sometimes leave us feeling inadequate and deficient. The only sure way to know is The Word of God which is the absolute standard of Truth and makes everything clear.

3.The Word of God,as light, directs our steps and keeps us headed in the right direction. It enables us to see mot only dangers,but also the opportunities ahead of us Without the Word of God to enlighten us of the kind of obstacles that are in our way, we would trip and fall. Without the Word of God shining on our path to tell us which is the right path to take and which is the one to avoid, we may end up going the way of complete destruction. It is the Word of God that lights up our way and keeps us on the path of blessing,the path of peace, protection and prosperity.

If we have been neglecting to read the Word of God, let’s begin today. Open your Bible and start reading. The Word of God is dynamic. The Bible is alive and active. It will speak to you and your particular situation. You will discover for yourself how it will be like a lamp directing your steps and illuminating your path so that you will find yourself in alignment with God’s plan for your life. There are blessings to be discovered.

“The Bible: banned, bumed, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints.” -Charles Colson

That power of the Word of God is available to you and me today.

Let the Word of God light your path, and light up your life. God bless you.