"You are the light of the world. A
city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16
Can you imagine what life would be like without
"light?" Groping in the
darkness is a scary thing to almost anyone.
Even familiar surroundings can seem frightening when you are in total
darkness. Insecurity and fear are strong
emotions in the darkness. The Bible
refers to our world without Christ as living in the darkness and in need of
light. Paul spoke of the darkness of
this world as where we were without Christ.
For He rescued us from the domain of
darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13
All light is able to be traced to a source. As believers, we are not the source of the
light but the vessel for the light.
Scripture speaks clearly about Christ bringing light into a darkened
world. John spoke of the incarnation as
the coming of light when he said, In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4
Christ spoke of Himself as source of light for the
world. Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
"I am the light of the world. He who
follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12 Clearly, we bear the light within our lives
that has been born in us through Christ.
The Light Identifies
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden.
Our identity in Christ Jesus is not to be a hidden identity
but one that is to been seen by all. Consider these scriptures which remind us
of who we are because of Whose we are:
"While you have the light, believe
in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden
from them. John 12:36
You
are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of
darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8
The beginning of our being a light that transforms the
darkness is to see the light in ourselves…to let Christ’s light shine in us
that He might shine through us. The
scripture does not say we “might be the light” or that we “can be the light”;
it says “we ARE the light.” That is
because the light of Christ burns inside us.
It’s not always easy being a light in the darkness. Tim Goble said, “It's tough to be in the
dark and not let the dark get in you.
The unending struggle for the Christian is to walk in the light and at
the same time keep moving into the shadows.”
But is there that we are to
shine.
So, set out today
and let’s all sing together, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it
shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let
it shine.”
Scripture to Claim:
For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
Psalms 18:28
