Thinking about light today from Matthew 5:14-16:
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 MSG
Hundreds of years before Jesus spoke those words, one of the Psalmists prayed a similar prayer, asking God to shine among the people so that as His light radiates outward, it would testify to His greatness, His goodness, His deliverance!
May God show us his favor and bless us.
Psalm 67:1-2 NET
May he smile on us. (Selah)
Then those living on earth will know what you are like;
all nations will know how you deliver your people.
Paul also picked up on this idea, that as image-bearers we reflect the light of God, shining like stars in our dark world. Stars were used for navigation and as we allow God’s light to shine in our lives, we point others to God … we are agents of navigation.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, as you offer them the message of life.
Philippians 2:14-16a GNT
Later in His ministry, Jesus provides a command that gives structure to our shining like lights in our dark world. He says it is our love for one another that makes us distinctively His! If you wonder how to shine, then practice loving one another!
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
John 13:34-35 MSG
Prayerfully asking God today to so work in my life that others would be drawn to Him! May I reflect His light brightly, clearly, honestly to proclaim His wondrous acts!
1 Peter 2:9 VOICE
But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
P.P. Bliss
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see
The Light of the world is Jesus!
