3 Ways to Avoid Sputtering
By Marlene Houk
Burke County
Luke 11:36 “If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”
I love the steadfast glow of a lone candle, rising regally in the dark or pooling elegantly in a treasured container. Hopeful and peaceful, the glow comforts me and imbues my surroundings with beauty. Even the Bible woman who is treasured “far above rubies” is valued for the quality of her candle and its amazing ability to shine (Proverbs 31:18).
Candle-making and I briefly crossed paths years ago, and I realized the craft involved taking time to create a steady light. A flickering candle that threatens to extinguish itself creates a certain tension and uncertainty. But, a delightful time spent enjoying a well-made candle demanded attention to certain characteristics of the wick for effective lighting. I learned three ways to avoid a sputtering candle.
After reading verses in the Bible with the words, wick, candle, oil, and anointed, the analogies to myself as a Christian burned brighter than ever. My spirit is the wick. The Holy Spirit is the oil, and the container is my earthly body. Three ways to avoid a low-quality candle—my spiritual light—require ensuring that the wick:
- is not too long
- has no carbon buildup
- is in the center of the wax or oil
What makes a candle shine brightly? Is it the mass of the darkness? The lighter? The length of time it is allotted to shine? We smile. Of course not. The candle pierces the darkness because most of the wick is saturated or immersed in the oil or wax.
For a stable flame, the wick should be trimmed to ¼ inch. As Christians, when we immerse ourselves—our wick—in the oil of the Holy Spirit, we shine for Jesus. If our wick—ourselves—rises far above the oil, our light winks in and out. But, if most of our life is surrendered to the oil, then all we need to concern ourselves with is the tiny part of the wick that is exposed to the wind of the world. Like the wick, my life should be trimmed to a bare minimum of exposure to the drafts from the world. Ephesians 4:14 helps us understand how the winds of the world affect the steady glow as we send the light of Jesus into the world. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” We can maintain a steady, undiminished light by focusing on the Holy Spirit as He teaches us the Word. If others contradict the Word, they become the “cunning craftiness” to be avoided.
Sometimes, our wick accumulates carbon buildup. Trimming involves the daily elimination of carbon build-up—sin—by reading the Bible. Like a candle with an untrimmed or carbon-coated wick, I sometimes sputter in my life. At moments, my life shines for Jesus, reflecting like the sun on water His glory. Then, it flickers, and my light recedes into shadow as I revert to self-focus. But, as I daily cleanse the carbon buildup from my life with the purifying Word of God, the sooty residue disappears, ensuring a bright long-lasting light. (See Ephesians 5:26.)
As my life elevates Christ while minimizing my exposure to the world, and I daily trim the excess of self away, the final characteristic of my life, my wick, is to center myself directly in His will for me. Asking each day, “Lord, what do you want me to do today?” helps me to keep the cord of my life in perfect alignment with His will, helping me burn the brightest for His glory. Fortunately, when we become believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us to live in the center of God’s will by teaching us from the Bible (See John 14:26.), helping us remember what He has taught us (See John 14:26.), and strengthening us to live for the Lord (See Ephesians 3:16.)
The three ways to avoid sputtering as a Christian light calls us to:
- keep our wicks, ourselves, from being too long or rising too highly above the Holy Spirit, the oil
- trim our lives to destroy sin, carbon buildup
- center ourselves in God’s will
Our candlelight joins others like a Christmas candlelight service, glowing peacefully in the dark. Although small in comparison to the soaring shadows that shelter the what-ifs of life, our tiny lights join our brothers and sisters to draw others to the glorious flame of truth—Jesus.
Immerse yourself in the rich oils of the Scriptures to fuel the light that glows in your world. You’ll be amazed at the riches of His grace and the wisdom for everyday living that soaks into every bit of your thoughts and actions. Others’s attentions switch from their ceaseless activity to enjoying the bright glow of Christ within you, the hope of glory.
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Marlene is an author and teacher of Bible studies. She may be reached at [email protected]
To receive helpful insight from the Bible, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.MarleneHouk.com, or connect with her on other social media. You can read more good Christian News from Marlene HERE.
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Blue Ridge Christian News covers Avery County, Burke County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Yancey County, and Madison County in North Carolina, and Christian news from around the country.