This is part of a year-long series. Learn more about this series here.

Mark 4:21

“And He said to them, ‘Is a lamp Brough in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?’”

The more famous passage about being a lamp is Matthew 5:14-16, but Mark’s brief comment about it stood out today.

I had a few rocky interactions with people this week at work, and it made me reflect on how people perceive me. I avoid being “obnoxious for Jesus” because I don’t believe the New Testament pushes us in that direction. My tendency isn’t to be an obnoxious Christian but to be a dimly-lit one. I can adapt to my surroundings very well. There are many instances in my past where this has been a gift. But it can also be a rut. It is easy for me to match my surroundings, and this increases the likelihood that I will reflect my environment.

Jesus’ brief comment about a lamp’s purpose is obvious, and it should be one of our goals. I don’t want to put a basket over the presence of Christ in my life. This doesn’t mean I need to let people know that I think they should know that I am a Christian. This is often more abrasive that it is helpful. Instead, I want to focus on being more intentional about snapping out of my focused drive when I engage with people. One of the things that characterized Jesus’ ministry is that He made people feel seen. I think that is something I can be better at, and that starts by prioritizing the person I’m interacting with over my focus for where I’m going next.