Magnify His Name 

Read Psalm 96; Acts 5:1-11.

We have almost reached the end of this devotional series reflecting on what it means to be carriers of the Light of Life.

In the very first edition, I related the story of how my friend and I witnessed the tiny lights from two small candles placed on the lamp platform of Lundy’s Old Light, miraculously magnified thousands of times until we could no longer count the number of lights. Put simply, our job in the Church today is to do what the lenses, mirrors and the glass do in the lighthouse, which is to reflect and magnify (enlarge or expand) the glorious Name of our covenant-keeping God. We do this by how we act, what we say and what we do.

We might think that having reached the pinnacle of our journey up the spiritual ‘lighthouse’, there is absolutely no way we could do anything other than glorify His Name. Actually, our flesh nature often causes us to keep back something for ourselves. This is exactly what happened with Ananias and Sapphira. Despite their outward ‘godly’ appearance and seemingly generous giving, their motive was faulty. Not only did they keep back something financial, they also kept back a part of their heart.

Despite their outward ‘godly’ appearance and seemingly generous giving, their motive was faulty.

Whilst projecting the outward appearance of being as ‘on fire’ for God as their contemporaries, in their hearts they wanted to steal some of God’s glory for themselves: they wanted to be highly spoken of and admired, seen to be ‘someone’ and to have the reputation of being generous givers. It was all a lie, and their hearts were far from God. Judgement was swift and clear cut.

Back in 2006 when our ministry in the North of England was beginning to spread, I found myself being offered opportunities to speak from large well-known Christian platforms. I confess that for a while the allure of this world was very tempting because I was beginning to be known and make a name for myself. Then one day God used an old woman I had never seen before or since to speak the truth into my heart. She prophesied that if I allowed myself to carry on using these open doors to build my own reputation then I would seriously displease and dishonour my God who I thought I was pleasing.

She did not do this privately; she said it to me in a crowded room where I was leading the meeting! I collapsed that day, pride deflating like a pierced balloon. Having learnt this painful and humbling lesson, I am now content to stay low-key, in the background, trying to just meekly follow where He leads, only walking through the doors He opens and trying at all times to only do what He wants me to do.

Even when we know the truth about who He has called us to be in Him, we need to ensure that the Light of Life we carry remains pure and glorifies no other name than the Name of Jesus, for God does not share His glory with anyone. Any other light simply does not have the power to overcome the darkness, for the simple reason elements of darkness are still present in it.

We need to ensure that the Light of Life we carry remains pure and glorifies no other name than the Name of Jesus

Additional reading: Psalm 86:11; Isaiah 42:8; John 3:19.

Prayer Time:

Reflect on today’s reading.

• Have you ever thought you were serving God but were actually guilty of serving yourself as much, if not more?

Repent of the things He has shown you. Ask Him to give you a humble, undivided heart.

Give the rest of your time today to magnifying Him, using Psalm 96 as a biblical aid.