陆可铎 (Max Lucado) 在他的书《上帝走过人间》中讲了一个断电时四根蜡烛不愿离开储物柜的故事。当主人找到它们，想点亮它们好使自己在黑暗中能看见时，蜡烛们就开口说话了。它们不想离开。
一根蜡烛说它需要再做些准备。另一根说它太忙了。第三根说它不够合格。最后一根说它不擅长照明。
当然这只是个故事，蜡烛是不会说话的，但这个故事反映了我们作为世上的光的态度。耶稣教导我们，要让我们的光照在人前，好使人们看见神在我们生命中的工作，便不禁赞美祂的作为。
我们也有自己的借口。有些人觉得需要更多的装备，才能跟别人传讲耶稣。有些人看看自己的生活，因为自己的失败就觉得没资格谈论主。另外有些人则是把注意力放在了其他事上。
主很快就纠正我们。祂说，你们是世界的光，正如祂就是光。我们需要抛开那些借口，让我们的光照在人前。今天就问问自己：“我可以怎样、在哪里，为主发光呢？”
天父，求祢赐我们恩典，也赐我们乐意的心成为祢造我们的样子，好使我们能为耶稣发光。奉祂的名求，阿们。
马太福音 5:14-16；路加福音 8:16-18
14你们是世上的光。城造在山上是不能隐藏的。
15人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。
16你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。”
16“没有人点灯用器皿盖上，或放在床底下，乃是放在灯台上，叫进来的人看见亮光。
17因为掩藏的事没有不显出来的；隐瞒的事没有不露出来被人知道的。
18所以，你们应当小心怎样听；因为凡有的，还要加给他；凡没有的，连他自以为有的，也要夺去。”
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." — Luke 8:16
In his book God Came Near, Max Lucado tells a story about four candles that didn't want to leave their storage closet during a power outage. When the owner went to find them and light them so that he could see in the dark, the candles began to talk. They did not want to leave.
One candle said he needed more preparation. Another one was too busy. Another said she was not qualified. The last one said that giving light was not her gift.
Of course that was just a story. Candles don't talk. But that story reflects some of our attitudes when it comes to letting our light shine out to others, so that people see God working in our lives and give him praise, as Jesus taught.
We too have our excuses. Some of us feel we need more training before we can tell others about Jesus. Some of us look at our own lives and feel we don't have the right to talk about the Lord because of our own failures. Others of us simply concentrate on doing other things.
The Lord is quick to set us straight. We are the light of the world, he said, just as he is the light. We need to let go of our excuses and simply let our light shine. Ask yourself today, "How and where can I let my light shine?"
Father in heaven, give us the grace and willingness to be what you have intended us to be so that we will let our light shine for Jesus. In his name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
