When Open Hearts Get Flooded
Written by Jarred Rushing
(5 minutes)
"No one would think of lighting a lamp and then hiding it in the basement where no one would benefit. A lamp belongs on a lampstand, where all who enter may see its light. The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. When your heart is open the light floods in. But when your heart is hard and closed, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. Open your heart and consider my words. Watch out that you do not mistake your opinion for revelation-light! If your spirit burns with light, fully illuminated with no trace of darkness, you will be a shining lamp, reflecting rays of truth by the way you live." (Luke 11:33-36)
Did you know that something exists that the light cannot penetrate? In this scripture, we have Jesus, the Light of the World, telling us that there's something that the light cannot enter into, something it cannot pierce. Revelation-light brings change and transformation, but there is something that it is powerless to access no matter how brilliant and compelling it is.
What does Jesus tell us the light is powerless to invade?
A heart that is hard and closed.
The light cannot penetrate a hard heart. It takes a tender, open heart to receive revelation-light from Yahweh. The tenderness of our hearts can be found in our openness, in our vulnerability. Pastor Tim gave a great explanation of vulnerability when he said, "Transparency is me telling you that I've had a bad day. Vulnerability is me telling you why I've had a bad day." The tender heart is honest. The tender heart can trust someone with the truth instead of hiding.
Jesus goes on to give a warning about the hard heart. He says, "Watch out that you do not mistake your opinion for revelation-light!" If the tender, open heart is ruled by honest truth-telling. The closed, hard heart must be ruled by guarded opinions. The hard heart doesn't value honesty and truth over protecting itself and its long-held ideas.
The tender heart has a willingness to relearn, even if it means the loss of personal opinions. The open heart is flexible and can be reshaped. The hard heart is fixed and immovable.
There are areas of our life that are not shining as brightly as others. Some areas still seem to be hiding under a basket. What if these areas are not waiting on Abba, but you? What if these areas of struggle and striving have more to do with an opinion that you’re holding onto, that if you were to surrender then you would suddenly see revelation-light begin to flood in?
We're designed to be reflecting rays of light by the way we live. If Jesus is telling the truth in this scripture, then those areas where we are not reflecting light are areas that are still being ruled by a guarded, hard, and closed-off heart. We're not waiting on Abba to bring revelation-light. He's waiting for us to trust Him over our own opinion.
Abba wants more for us than we are even capable of thinking, asking, or imagining. He will not be the weak link in this relationship. If it seems like you are in a period of waiting, then Abba's expectation is that you would braid your perspective with His. The Hebrew word for "wait" literally means to be entwined or to braid like hair. Waiting on the Lord is a time of grace for us to give up our ideas and be braided together with His truth. It's a time to let go of the hard heart that is protecting our personal opinions and allow the Spirit to tenderize us again with openness and vulnerability in His presence.
What if the waiting is over only after we've been fully entwined with His perspective?
It's time to come out from under this basket and shine. As you take a walk with Abba today, let the consuming fire of His love melt the hardness away. Let His love tenderize your heart. Be open and vulnerable with Him. He is the safest place you will ever be!
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Worship: "Open Space" by Housefires
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
