Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they say see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
As evening arrives, we look for a light. As the sun sets, if we are still moving around, we start turning on the lights. If camping, we reach for lanterns and flashlights or maybe we start a fire. There is something about darkness that can be unsettling. It diminishes one of our most important senses, our vision.
It’s not that we are necessarily afraid of darkness, although that can be very true. It’s that we cannot fully function without appropriate light. We are in a weakened state and not able to perform at our best when we cannot see clearly.
Jesus says that his children are lights in the world. (Matthew 5:16) Through some miracle of God’s reality, we are actually lights in this world. There are scripture verses that speak of the fact that Satan is related to darkness. Jesus is associated with the light. Use your imagination to view a picture of God’s children in this world functioning as actual lights, like a lightbulb in the dark. One of our purposes is to light up the area around us and drive out the dark. This helps us to see our path more clearly but also if we are shining brightly enough it helps others around us to see their path more clearly as well. If a city is located on a hill and is brightly lit it is not easily hidden. It shines its lights and all will know that the town is there.
Matthew also teaches that when we allow our light to shine before others, they will actually notice our good deeds or kindnesses to others and that will cause them to glorify God. How amazing is that? Our good deeds can cause others to glorify God. I definitely want to be that kind of a Christian!
John says that Jesus came into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Him should stay in darkness. Think of yourself as a tiny star and Jesus is the sun. We can have a part in lighting up a world that is stumbling through the darkness. The darkness is here to cloud the way and frighten those who do not yet know Jesus. Let’s help point the way to the Son!
Dear Lord, we are not insignificant beings. As your children we are here to help a dark world find their way to you. You say we are actually lights and that we should not hide our light but let it shine brightly. As we live our lives, we pray you would give us opportunities to light up the way for others and even ourselves. Our planet would grow cold and die quickly without the sun. We also will shrivel and wither if we are not given light. Shine brightly into us, Lord, that we may in turn shine brightly onto others.
In Jesus precious name I pray,
Amen.
Song: This Little Light of Mine
