Be the Light

“You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

-Matthew 5.14 – 16 (NLT)

What does it mean to be the light of the world?

You are called to shine! As a Christian, you are called to live a life so in contrast to the world that you should be like an unobstructed, bright light shining for all to see in a world full of spiritual darkness. What you say and what you do matters because it testifies to the world about who God is and how He makes us visibly different.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and He lives on the inside of you. Therefore, we are called to a higher standard of living because we are God’s chosen representatives and the light of Christ shines forth from within our hearts to make known who He is to the world (Colossians 3.12, 2 Corinthians 4.6-7). So, everything you say and do should illuminate sin and the evil deeds of this world, display the goodness of God, and bring glory to His name. Ephesians 5.8-9 says, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light. For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”

As the world gets darker in these last days, the righteous are called to “shine ever brighter until the full light of day” (Proverbs 4.18). Do not hide your light in an attempt to be similar with the darkness. Do not be afraid or ashamed to share the Source of your light with the world. Instead, be strong and courageous as the Word of God commissions us. Be unwilling to compromise and adulterate the Word of God, be unashamed of the Gospel (the good news of Christ), and be unashamed to live a clean, innocent life as a child of God (Romans 1.16, Philippians 2.15).

Arise and shine in everything you do because God has set you apart. And when you do what pleases the Lord and obey His Word, your good deeds will be seen and ultimately give glory to God!

Scriptures to Reflect On:

·         Ephesians 5.8-14

·         Proverbs 4.18

·         Philippians 2.15

·         John 3.20-21

·         1 Peter 2.9

·         Isaiah 60.1

·         Colossians 3.12

·         2 Corinthians 4.6-7